This Boursin orzo bake with cherry tomatoes is a creamy, cheesy, and oh-so-cozy dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special side. Ready in just 45 minutes!
Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 📹 Watch The Video | 👩🍳 Recipe Tips | 🥗 Serving Suggestions | 📝 Full Recipe Card | 🍽 More Similar Recipes
This Boursin cheese and orzo pasta bake is everything I want in a comfort meal: creamy, cheesy, herby, and packed with roasted cherry tomatoes that bring little bursts of sweetness to every bite.
The orzo is cooked right in a flavorful stock, soaking up all the goodness while Boursin cheese melts into a silky, garlicky sauce. This one is definitely filed under comfort food category!
It’s a one-pan meal that’s quick enough for weeknights but I love making it as an impressive dish for dinner guests. Plus, with the option to swap ingredients, it’s endlessly adaptable.
👩🍳 What is Boursin Cheese? Boursin cheese is a soft, creamy, and spreadable cheese packed with garlic and herbs. It melts beautifully, making it a superstar for creamy dishes like this one. If you can’t find Boursin, a garlic-and-herb cream cheese or whipped goat cheese with some added fresh herbs can work as a substitute.
👩🍳 You might also like my creamy chicken orzo, hearty veggie pasta bake, my creamy butternut squash pasta, or my vegetarian cottage cheese lasagna. Check even more recipes using orzo pasta here.
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need for this Boursin orzo bake recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cherry tomatoes: Bring juicy sweetness. Use grape tomatoes or a medley if you prefer. You will need some olive oil and salt for roasting these first.
- Boursin cheese: The star of the show! It adds creamy, garlicky, and herby goodness. As I mentioned above, if you can’t find Boursin (or it’s too expensive), a garlic-and-herb cream cheese or garlicky herby goat cheese can work as a substitute.
- Orzo pasta: Cooks right in the sauce, soaking up all the flavor. Swap with other small pasta shapes, if needed. You can do rice for a gluten-free version.
- Parmesan cheese: For added savory, nutty flavor.
- Stock & tomato paste: These are used as the cooking stock base. Use veggie or chicken stock—or a mix, as I did!
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and fresh basil for garnish.
How To Make Boursin Orzo Bake
Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for how to make this boursin cheese pasta bake.
- Roast the tomatoes: Halve and toss with olive oil and salt in a baking dish. Roast at 400°F / 200°C for 15 minutes.
- Prep stock: While tomatoes roast, whisk together stock and tomato paste.
- Assemble: Reduce oven to 375°F / 190°C. Add orzo, half the Boursin, stock mixture, and seasonings to the dish. Stir. Dot the remaining Boursin on top and sprinkle with Parmesan. Add reserved tomato halves.
- Bake: Bake for 22 minutes, stirring once to ensure even cooking. Let it sit for a few minutes, then stir again to mix the creamy sauce. If too thick, add a little extra hot water or stock.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Watch The Video
Recipe Tips
- If the bake seems dry or too thick, add a splash or two of stock and stir through before serving.
- If you like it a little less cheesy or rather less rich, try using half of the suggested Boursin amount. The flavor is strong so even half the amount will give you plenty to work with.
- Swap the cheese: Use cream cheese, goat cheese, or ricotta with added herbs or garlic.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, shrimp, or crispy pancetta before baking. Add chickpeas for a veggie version.
- Mix in spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
This bake is rich so it pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad or simple lemon garlic asparagus or garlic broccoli. For a heartier meal or extra protein, serve it alongside grilled chicken, white fish or salmon.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Cooked & Loved
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes about 0.5 lb or 250-270 grams, you can use grape tomatoes or a mix of tomatoes here
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups orzo pasta 10 oz or almost 300 grams
- 5.5 oz Boursin cheese about 150 grams, see notes
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock, I use a mix of two
- ⅓ cup sliced olives
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Toss halved cherry tomatoes with olive oil and salt in a deep baking dish. Roast for 15 minutes and remove from the oven.
- Reduce oven heat to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, whisk stock with tomato paste.
- Add half the Boursin (in chunks), half of the olive and dry orzo to the baking dish. Pour stock mixture over and season with pepper. Stir to combine. Dot remaining Boursin on top, sprinkle with Parmesan, and place reserved tomato halves and the last sliced olives on top.
- Bake for 22 minutes, stirring once, until orzo is tender and sauce is creamy. Let rest for 2-3 minutes, then stir again. Garnish with fresh basil and serve. If the orzo seems quite thick, add a quarter cup of stock or water to thin it out. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Comment or Rate This Recipe
Made the recipe? Please leave a rating as it helps other readers to discover this dish. You don’t need to leave a comment if rating a recipe, unless it’s 3 stars or below.
Comments
0 Comments