If you’re in the mood for a cozy, delicious meal that requires minimal effort, this One-Tray Baked Orzo with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes is a game-changer. It’s creamy, packed with vibrant flavors, and all comes together in just one tray, making cleanup a breeze. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re craving something satisfying yet simple!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One-tray meal: No need for multiple pots and pans—everything is roasted and mixed in one dish.
- Rich and creamy: The roasted garlic and vegan cream cheese (or coconut milk) create a luscious sauce.
- Hearty and healthy: With cherry tomatoes, white beans, and spinach, this dish is filling and packed with nutrients.
- Customizable: Swap in your favorite veggies or spices to make it your own.
What You’ll Need
- Orzo: A small, rice-like pasta that soaks up all the delicious flavors.
- Vegetable broth: Cooking the orzo in broth adds depth and richness.
- Cherry tomatoes: Sweet and juicy, they roast beautifully in the oven.
- Garlic bulb: Roasting the garlic mellows out its flavor and makes it creamy.
- Vegan cream cheese or coconut milk: For that rich, creamy texture that ties the dish together.
- White beans: These add a nice, hearty element and extra protein.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach wilts into the orzo, adding color and nutrients.
- Olive oil: Helps the tomatoes and garlic roast perfectly.
- Herbs and spices: A mix of oregano, basil, and optional smoked paprika adds earthy, slightly smoky flavor.
- Salt and pepper: To season everything perfectly.
How to Make It
1. Preheat Your Oven
First things first, preheat your oven. This gets everything ready to roast while you prepare the ingredients.
2. Prep the Tray
In a large baking tray, add your cherry tomatoes and the whole garlic bulb (cut the top off to expose the cloves). If you’re using vegan cream cheese, place it in the center of the tray. Drizzle everything with olive oil and sprinkle with dried herbs, smoked paprika (optional), and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cover the tray with foil to keep in the moisture while roasting.
3. Roast to Perfection
Place the tray in your preheated oven and let it roast until the cherry tomatoes are blistered, the garlic is soft, and the vegan cream cheese has melted into creamy goodness.
4. Cook the Orzo
While your veggies roast, cook your orzo in vegetable broth according to package instructions. Once it’s ready, drain any excess liquid and set it aside.
5. Make the Sauce
When the roasting is done, remove the tray from the oven. Squeeze the softened garlic cloves out of their skins directly into the tray. If you’re using vegan cream cheese, mix it with the roasted garlic and blistered tomatoes to create a creamy sauce. If you’re using coconut milk, pour it in now and stir everything together until smooth.
6. Combine and Serve
Now, add your cooked orzo, white beans, and spinach to the tray. Stir everything together, letting the sauce coat the orzo, beans, and spinach. The spinach will wilt from the heat, adding a pop of color and freshness. Taste, adjust the seasoning, and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Add a kick: If you like spice, throw in some red pepper flakes or chili powder.
- Extra veggies: Zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms would make great additions to this dish.
- Meal prep: This dish reheats beautifully, making it perfect for lunch the next day.
This creamy and comforting One-Tray Baked Orzo with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes is the ultimate easy meal. With minimal prep, you’ll have a dish that’s bursting with flavor and nutrition. Plus, it’s completely vegan and can be customized to suit whatever ingredients you have on hand.
Give it a try and enjoy a hassle-free, delicious dinner!
One-Tray Baked Orzo with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Equipment
- Large baking tray or casserole dish
- aluminum foil
- Medium saucepan for cooking orzo
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups orzo
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth for cooking the orzo
- 1 pint 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 whole garlic bulb cut the top off to expose the cloves
- 4 block vegan cream cheese ~4 oz or ~½ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 white beans can (~14.5 oz) cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 2 cups spinach roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Prepare the baking tray:
- In a large baking tray or casserole dish, add the cherry tomatoes and the whole garlic bulb (with the top cut off).
- If using vegan cream cheese, place it in the center of the tray.
- Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with dried oregano, dried basil, smoked paprika (optional), salt, and pepper.
- Cover the tray with aluminum foil.
Roast the tomatoes and garlic:
- Place the tray in the oven and roast for 50-60 minutes, or until the cherry tomatoes are blistered, the garlic is soft, and the vegan cream cheese (if used) is melted.
Cook the orzo:
- While the vegetables are roasting, cook the orzo in vegetable broth according to package instructions. Drain any excess broth if necessary and set aside.
Prepare the creamy sauce:
- After roasting, remove the tray from the oven.
- Squeeze the softened roasted garlic cloves out of the bulb directly into the tray.
- If using vegan cream cheese, mix the garlic, melted vegan cream cheese, and blistered cherry tomatoes to create a creamy sauce.
- If using coconut milk instead of vegan cream cheese, pour in the coconut milk now and stir well to combine with the roasted tomatoes and garlic, creating a smooth, creamy sauce.
Combine everything:
- Add the cooked orzo, white beans, and spinach to the tray.
- Stir everything together, letting the creamy sauce coat the orzo, beans, and spinach. The spinach will wilt from the heat.
Finish and serve:
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, vegan one-tray orzo!
Notes
• If you prefer more protein, consider adding extra beans or a side of grilled tofu.
• Feel free to experiment with extra veggies like zucchini or bell peppers for added variety.
Looks very tasty and easy! Looking for forward to trying it!
Recipe name is misleading, tho. The orzo is not baked and it requires two pans to cook (pot for orzo and pan for tomatoes).
I made this dish this evening and it was fabulous! I must confess, that I did use dairy cream cheese because I did not have any vegan cream cheese. I did include the smoked paprika, which gave it a really great flavor! Also, I only used half of a head of garlic because I was afraid it might be too much (I know, how can there ever be too much garlic??). I thought it was perfect. I do wish this was truly a one dish meal though.