This recipe for CrockPot Cheesy Ranch Orzo is super easy with only 4 ingredients. It’s ultra cheesy, creamy and almost risotto-like. Serve as a side dish with dinner or bring a big batch to your next potluck!
This orzo kind of reminds me of macaroni and cheese a little bit. It’s really creamy and comforting. I was thinking after I ate it that it would be super awesome with some green chiles for an extra flavor dimension or adding bacon bits would be totally tasty and make it taste almost like carbonara. Another idea is to add some cooked broccoli in with it and have a cheesy broccoli and pasta meal. I will definitely be playing with these flavor combinations in the future!
Recipe for Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Orzo
Makes 4 servings
Ideal slow cooker size: 3 quart
Cooking time: 2 hours
1 cup orzo, uncooked
2 cups chicken broth
1 Tbsp Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. Pour orzo into the bottom of the
slow cooker. Pour broth over the top of the orzo.
slow cooker. Pour broth over the top of the orzo.
2. Sprinkle with the ranch dressing
mix.
mix.
3. Cover and cook on low for about 2
hours.
hours.
4. When orzo is cooked through and
there isn’t any liquid left, stir in cheddar cheese gently. Serve
immediately for best results.
there isn’t any liquid left, stir in cheddar cheese gently. Serve
immediately for best results.
*For extra flavor add in bacon bits or a
can of green chiles.
can of green chiles.
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if I doubled this recipe and cooked it in 6 qt slow cooker on high (only for the last half hour) would that work?
yep that would work.
Looks good. I wonder if it would work well with mozzarella cheese. I like most cheese well enough but my girlfriend isn’t much of a cheese person (in fact I don’t think she likes too many cultured dairy products at all…that means no sour cream or yogurt products or buttermilk products either). About the only cheese she’ll eat is mozzarella and maybe provolone and only when it’s on or in things like lasagna or pizza (as those cheeses tend to be much milder in flavor). So she might enjoy a cheesy pasta made with mozzarella.
Sure mozzarella would be really yummy!
I really want to try this, sounds so yummy. If I was making a double batch, how long would it need?
Just add 30 minutes.
How much time for just over 1 and a half times the recipe in a 6 quart crock pot? (I didn’t have enough orzo to completely double it).
I would use the same amount of time, or maybe just a few minutes more.
So… Not sure what happened, I followed the directions precisely… But this turned into a homogeneous rubbery concoction that my kindergartener dubbed “mash-a-Roni” and refused to eat.
Sorry to hear that! What size slow cooker did you use?
If I were to add broccoli {probably frozen} when should I add it to the crock pot?
I would add it at the beginning. Just place on top.
Hi! This looks delicious. Could I use another mix (such as Knorr's french onion dip) instead of the ranch?
Oh totally. That sounds yummy!
I just made this for a work potluck. Don't get me wrong- I liked it and will definitely make it again, but my co-workers were raving and all asking me for the recipe. As I type my boss is in her office telling her daughter in law (I think) about it. Great job- it was sure popular.
Haha! You can't go wrong with cheesy pasta! Glad they liked it 🙂
This looks easy and delish. Do you think it would double/triple okay?
thanks for the great recipes!
yes! I think it would work great.