Asparagus Pasta

4.93 from 26 votes

Orzo pasta and fresh asparagus are tossed in a garlic butter sauce with parmesan cheese. It’s a 20-minute, garlicky, cheesy, and amazing side dish!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: asparagus pasta, asparagus pasta recipe

Servings:

1 cup dry orzo
1 pound fresh asparagus tips only (cut the asparagus about 2 to 3-inches from the top)
4 tablespoons butter
3 garlic cloves minced
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
shredded parmesan cheese for garnish optional

Cook the orzo. Prepare the orzo according to the directions on the package.
Cook the asparagus. Add the asparagus tips to the orzo during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Remove from heat and drain.
In the meantime, prepare the garlic butter sauce. Add butter to a skillet and melt over medium heat. Stir in garlic and cook for 4 or until lightly browned, stirring very frequently. Do not burn the garlic.
Combine. Add the cooked orzo and asparagus to the skillet; stir in the cheese, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through.
Finish and serve. Remove from heat. Garnish with parmesan cheese and serve.

To Store. Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
To Reheat. The best way to reheat this pasta is in a skillet with a touch of oil over medium-low heat, because this will help the asparagus crisp up a little. If you're not worried so much about the texture of the asparagus, though, you can just use the microwave.