• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet Cayenne
  • ABOUT
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • RECIPES BY CATEGORY
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Main Entree
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
    • How-To Guides
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • NEWSLETTER
    • CONTACT
    • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Recipes

    Easy Orzo Cacio e Pepe

    Published: Apr 17, 2018 · Modified: Sep 13, 2020 by Whitney Reist · This post may contain affiliate links |

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This traditional Italian dish of cacio e pepe is pasta with a simple sauce of cheese and pepper gets a fun twist with the use of orzo!

    Olive wood cutting board with shredded parmesan cheese and pepper corns sitting on top. Off to the top there is a bowl of uncooked orzo pasta.

    Today I wanted to share with you one of the simplest Italian side dishes you can make that I've been using lately to help me clean out small portions of pasta in my pantry! I've always got small amounts of orzo, penne, bowties, and more left from this recipe or that recipe, and making Cacio e Pepe is such a great way to use up what is left! You can make a small amount for one or two or easily make enough to feed a crowd, and the technique of stirring freshly grated cheese, pepper, a bit of butter, and hot pasta water into noodles to make a flavorful sauce could not be any simpler. It's pretty much a foolproof recipe, and makes for a perfect side dish that you can have ready in no time at all!

    This simple recipe for Orzo Cacio e Pepe is a great option for a side dish on a weeknight to serve with grilled or roasted meats, fish, or a simple side salad! Easy Italian food that is healthy and tastes delicious!

    Orzo Cacio e Pepe is such a great side to combine with any type of grilled or roasted meat, fish, or to serve on its own with a hearty Italian salad. To me, the texture and taste is a cross between risotto and macaroni and cheese, but the dish is MUCH easier to make than either of those. You can just use Parmesan as the cheese, or get creative with a combination of Parmesan, Asiago, or Pecorino Romano. It would also be fun to jazz things up with a drizzle of truffle oil or aged balsamic on the finished pasta - but trust me, it tastes delicious on its own! The beauty of this dish certainly lies in the simplicity of making it and using just a few, very high-quality ingredients. I was thrilled to find a 2-pound block of 24-month aged Parmesan from Italy at Costco for only $15 - it added so much depth of flavor to my pasta!

    This simple recipe for Orzo Cacio e Pepe is a great option for a side dish on a weeknight to serve with grilled or roasted meats, fish, or a simple side salad! Easy Italian food that is healthy and tastes delicious!

    If you like this recipe for Orzo Cacio e Pepe, I think you will really enjoy this Tuna Superfood Power Salad, Pizza Pasta Salad, this Simple Kale Salad, and this easy Summer Pasta Salad with Zucchini!

    Did you make this Orzo Cacio e Pepe? I'd love to hear how it turned out for you -

    Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes!

    I’d also love to feature your creation in my weekly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured! Quick and easy recipe videos are available on my YouTube channel, and lots of menu inspiration on my Pinterest boards.

    This simple recipe for Orzo Cacio e Pepe is a great option for a side dish on a weeknight to serve with grilled or roasted meats, fish, or a simple side salad! Easy Italian food that is healthy and tastes delicious!

    Orzo Cacio e Peppe

    This traditional Italian dish of pasta with a simple sauce of cheese and pepper gets a fun twist with the use of orzo!
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcayenne5 or tag #sweetcayenne!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 2 people

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup of whole wheat dried orzo pasta or ¼ pound of any dried pasta
    • Kosher salt
    • ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 ½ tablespoons butter diced into small cubes
    • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 1 cup of reserved pasta water to use as needed

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the boiling water with a heaping teaspoon of salt. Place the orzo in the boiling water and cook according to package directions or until al dente. Before draining the pasta, ladle out 1 cup of the pasta water into a small bowl to reserve for later use.
    • Drain the pasta and return it back to the pot you cooked it in. Place the pot back on the burner with the heat turned OFF. Add the grated cheese, butter, black pepper, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir to combine. Add more pasta water as needed to reach a creamy texture. Serve immediately.
    Serving: 1g | Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.7g | Protein: 15.2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9.5g | Cholesterol: 41.7mg | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 6.3g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 297mg | Iron: 3mg

    Pin this, pretty please!

    This simple recipe for Orzo Cacio e Pepe is a great option for a side dish on a weeknight to serve with grilled or roasted meats, fish, or a simple side salad! Easy Italian food that is healthy and tastes delicious!

    Don't miss these recipes!

    • Bojangles Copycat Cinnamon Biscuits with Vanilla Icing
    • Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
    • Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach
    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board

    Want more?

    Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get exclusive content (like menus, cooking downloads, and more!), blog recaps, and a chance to connect or be featured!

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Many of the links in my posts are affiliate links, which means I can get a small commission for any click or purchases made through the links. I am also an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lucy says

      June 27, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      Yum! Reminded me of the cacio e pepe my husband and I had in Rome years ago. Love the orzo twist. This is a new favorite. Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
      • Whitney Reist says

        June 30, 2020 at 7:42 am

        That's so wonderful! I've been lucky enough to have the dish in Rome as well - such lovely memories!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello there!

    I'm Whitney, the chef, photographer, dietitian, and blogger-extraordinaire behind Sweet Cayenne. Welcome to my online kitchen!

    About Whitney & Sweet Cayenne

    What's In Season

    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Easy Potato Leek Soup
    • Small Batch Strawberry Jam
    • Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Pie
    • Strawberry Pretzel Chicken Wraps
    • Simple Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

    Free cookbook and menu planners!

    Subscribe to my weekly newsletter & receive a free e-cookbook of my 25 best recipes along with menu planning sheets!

    Privacy Policy

    The Latest & Greatest:

    A wire rack with a sheet of parchment paper on top and cinnamon biscuits.

    Bojangles Copycat Cinnamon Biscuits with Vanilla Icing

    A white bowl filled with pizza pasta salad garnished with fresh basil leaves.

    Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad

    A pink bowl on a cutting board filled with sweet potato lentil curry and rice.

    Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach

    A St. Patrick's day themed snack board with corned beef, sauerkraut, soda bread, and other charcuterie items.

    St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board

    A white bowl of potato leek soup topped with croutons, bacon, cheese, and scallions.

    Easy Potato Leek Soup

    Square-red-velvet-cheesecake-bars

    Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

    Travel Here Next:

    • Nashville Finds: Lemon Laine Oil Bar
    • Positano, Italy: Budget-Friendly Travel Guide
    • The Best Tuscan Road Trip Itinerary + Tips on Driving in Italy
    • A Foodie's Guide to Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    Cooking Guides

    • Cookbook Club: Super Simple Cookbook Review
    • Sweet Cayenne Cookbook Club | Tips for Planning and Hosting
    • 5 Ways to Become a Better Cook
    • Facts About Food: Where to Go for Answers & Guidance

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Photography Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 SweetCayenne