One Pan Orzo with Tuna and Zucchini

This one pan orzo with tuna and zucchini is flavorful and scrumptious and comes collectively so quick as all the pieces cooks in a single skillet or pan.

This simple, comforting meal makes essentially the most of contemporary backyard produce, and it will possibly’t be beat for a easy weeknight dinner!

How you can Make This One Pan Recipe

Since all the pieces cooks in a single skillet or pan, the steps are necessary for this tuna zucchini recipe!

1. Prepare dinner the zucchini till it’s golden. To get that scrumptious coloration (and ensuing taste), let the oil warmth till sizzling and rippling earlier than including the zucchini, after which let the zucchini prepare dinner with out stirring for a minute or so. Don’t prepare dinner the zucchini too lengthy! You don’t need it mushy. Simply barely softened.
2. Take away the zucchini to a plate or dish.
3. Toast the orzo and garlic within the pan after which add the broth.
4. Prepare dinner the orzo, uncovered, at a mild simmer till the pasta is al dente.
5. Stir within the tuna, zucchini, and lemon juice.
6. Add the contemporary basil and Parmesan cheese.
7. Serve instantly! (Why wait? This dish is so scrumptious!)

Pan Measurement: use a deep 12-inch skillet for this recipe. In case you don’t have a deep skillet, a 6- to 8-quart saucepan or pot will work (the broader the underside of the pan, the higher for cooking the zucchini).

A Few Notes About Elements

• Tuna: I exploit canned, water-packed chunk mild tuna for this recipe. You possibly can experiment with different varieties of canned tuna, though attempt to keep away from oil-packed tuna as it might make the general dish too greasy.
• Zucchini: yellow zucchini or yellow squash might be subbed for inexperienced zucchini. For much less noticeable zucchini items, attempt shredding the zucchini. If doing so, it will want only a fast flash within the pan in step one (or perhaps under no circumstances??).
• Orzo: orzo is small rice-shaped pasta. One other sort of small pasta, like ditalini or small shells, might in all probability sub in fairly properly for the orzo.
• Lemon juice: don’t skip this ingredient! The contemporary lemon juice brightens the dish and provides the perfect taste. You possibly can sub in half the quantity of crimson wine vinegar for contemporary lemon juice, if desired (and add extra to style, if wanted).

I really feel like canned tuna predominant dishes get a foul rep. I don’t blame the haters – I cringe pondering of the sludgy tuna noodle casserole of the 80’s (often known as my childhood).

Nonetheless, recipes like this one pan orzo with tuna and zucchini ought to revive canned tuna’s popularity eternally! It’s such a beautiful dish.

Unassuming? Positive. Easy? Completely. Very, very tasty? 100%

Browning the zucchini till golden and including contemporary basil and punchy Parmesan are just some of the weather that elevate this humble dish from common to superb. I’m making this on repeat whereas I nonetheless have zucchini and basil bursting from my backyard. I hope you find it irresistible!

One Pan Orzo with Tuna and Zucchini

Yield: 7 to 7 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 20 minutes minutes

Complete Time: 40 minutes minutes

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 to five cups diced zucchini (1/2- to 1-inch items)
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 12 ounces dry orzo pasta (1 3/4 cups)
• 2 cloves garlic
• ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon crimson pepper flakes
• 3 ¾ cups rooster broth or inventory
• ½ teaspoon salt (use 3/4 to 1 teaspoon salt if utilizing low-sodium broth)
• 2 (7-ounces every) cans tuna packed in water, drained (see notice)
• 2 tablespoons contemporary lemon juice (see notice for different)
• ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
• ½ cup torn contemporary basil leaves

• In a deep 12-inch skillet or pot, warmth 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium warmth till rippling and sizzling. Add the zucchini and sprinkle frivolously with salt and pepper. Prepare dinner, with out stirring, for a minute or so. Stir or flip, and proceed cooking for two to three minutes till the zucchini is tender however not mushy.

• Take away the zucchini to a plate and return the pan to medium warmth.

• Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil and stir within the orzo, garlic and crimson pepper flakes. Stir always for 30-45 seconds till the combination smells aromatic.

• Stir within the broth and salt and produce the combination to a mild simmer. Proceed simmering, stirring typically, till the orzo is tender, 8 to 9 minutes. Reasonable the warmth as wanted, whereas cooking, to forestall the orzo from sticking on the underside of the pan. Do not boil too vigorously or the liquid will evaporate quicker than the orzo cooks. Add further broth a bit of at a time, if wanted. It is okay (and most well-liked) for there to be a little bit of broth left after the orzo is cooked in order that the general dish will not be dry.

• Add the tuna, zucchini, and lemon juice. Stir and prepare dinner till heated by way of.

• Stir within the Parmesan cheese and basil. Season to style with further salt and pepper, if wanted (necessary!). Serve instantly with further Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Tuna: I exploit the 7-ounce cans of tuna (ala Costco) for this recipe. In case you solely have 5-ounce cans of tuna, it’s high-quality to make use of the smaller cans (much less tuna, clearly – or use 3 cans for a bit extra tuna). 
Lemon Juice: crimson wine vinegar might be subbed for the lemon juice. Begin with half the quantity (1 tablespoon) and add extra, to style. 
Zucchini: you’ll want about 1 pound 12 ounces of zucchini (earlier than trimming and chopping). 

Course: Foremost Course

Delicacies: American

Technique: Stovetop

Serving: 1 serving, Energy: 307kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 20g, Fats: 8g, Saturated Fats: 2g, Ldl cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 894mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g

Recipe Supply: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe