Switch up your standard salmon routine and try out this delicious Creamy Salmon Orzo Skillet! Between the veggies, parmesan cheese, and lemon, it's overflowing with savory flavors.

salmon orzo skillet on tan plate with spoon

A Quick Look

Recipe Name: Creamy Salmon Orzo Skillet
Ready In: 50 minutes
Serves: 4 servings
Main Ingredients: olive oil, salmon fillets, garlic, orzo, chicken stock, fresh dill, salt, sliced cherry tomatoes
Why You'll Love It: Switch up your standard salmon routine and try out this delicious Creamy Salmon Orzo Skillet! Between the veggies, parmesan cheese, and lemon, it's overflowing with savory flavors.

An easy to make salmon dish

When it comes to cooking salmon, you can get truly creative with the recipe. There are so many ways to serve it, whether that's in a sticky rice bowl, teriyaki style, cajun style... the list goes on! But today, we're whipping up the meat in a delicious and creamy salmon orzo skillet.

This recipe using lots of veggies, making it nutritious in protein and a number of nutrients. It comes together easily and serves four perfectly.

Ingredients in this creamy salmon orzo skillet

This orzo dinner kicks off with just what you'd expect — salmon and orzo! We'll be adding flavor with ingredients like dill, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, lemon, and parmesan.

Olive oil: First up, 2 tablespoon of olive oil will be used to cook the salmon.
Salmon: For the salmon itself, you will need 4 fillets. This should equal about 2 lbs of meat.
Garlic: Add flavor by including 3 cloves of minced garlic. If using garlic powder, use ¾ tsp.
Orzo: 1 cup of orzo will thicken up the recipe and help create a delicious salmon orzo skillet.
Chicken stock: Add 2 cups of chicken stock to help create the delicious creamy texture (you can use chicken broth if that's what you have). For a vegetarian stock option, vegetable broth is fine.
Dill: Next, 2 tablespoon of fresh dill helps to flavor the recipe. Lightly chop before adding to the dish.
Salt: Add even more flavor with ½ teaspoon of salt.
Cherry tomatoes: Throw in some veggies starting with cherry tomatoes. Use 1 cup, sliced.
Asparagus: Follow the tomatoes with 1 cup of chopped asparagus.
Lemon: Juice from ½ of a lemon helps to add a nice tangy flavor to the recipe.
Milk: Contribute to the creamy texture by adding ½ cup of milk.
Parmesan cheese: Finish things off with ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
Toppings: Top your dish with extra dill and parmesan — as much as you'd like!

Tool used to make this creamy salmon orzo dish

Few tools are required to make this dish. Everything needed is listed below, including appropriate measuring cup sizes:

Cutting board
Cutting knife
Skillet
Stirring utensil
Spatula or fork
Measuring cups: ½ tsp, 1 tbsp, ½ cup, and 1 cup

Photo of ingredients for Creamy Salmon Orzo Skillet with labels.

How to make this creamy salmon orzo skillet recipe

This recipe yields four satisfying servings. It's easy to bring together, requiring only 5 main steps. Let's get started!

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil. Once hot, add the salmon (if the skin is on, place the salmon skin side down). Cook for 6-7 minutes, and then flip and cook on the other side for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. Take the salmon out and place it on a separate plate.

Next, add the minced garlic to skillet followed by the dry orzo. Mix it all around and let the orzo toast for one minute. Pour in the chicken stock, dill, and salt, and use a whisk to scrape all the brown bits off of the bottom of the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

After 5 minutes, add the tomatoes and asparagus. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add the lemon juice, milk, and parmesan cheese, and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the orzo mixture has absorbed most of the liquid.

Nestle the salmon fillets back into the skillet and let them heat through for about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Top with more parmesan and dill and serve!

cooking salmon in a skillet with a spatula

Storing leftovers

Leftover salmon and orzo can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The same goes for freezing — transfer to an airtight container. Enjoy within 2 months.

Recipe Tips

How long does it take to pan fry salmon?

When pan frying salmon, you can tell it's done cooking if the top layer becomes flakey and pulls apart easily with a fork. This usually takes around 8 minutes.

What can I add to my creamy salmon orzo skillet?

If you'd like to add extra ingredients to this dish, you can add baby spinach (cook it down until it's wilted), diced shallots, diced yellow onion, oregano, paprika, or red pepper flakes to taste! Some also add red wine vinegar or dry white wine, but do so at your own discretion.

What is best served with salmon?

You can serve up this dish with a number of tasty sides! Consider options like Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes, Corn Pudding, Summer Avocado Corn Salad, or Tomato Bruschetta!

salmon orzo skillet served on blue plates

If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!

Want to try some more salmon dishes? Here are some tasty options! The teriyaki recipe is a favorite.

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

Erin Antoniak