Cheesy Broccoli Leek Orzo Bake
Servings 6 People
Ingredients
- 1 leek tough dark green end trimmed off, sliced into ½-inch rounds or half moons
- 1 lb bag frozen broccoli florets (about 5 cups)*
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt divided
- 1 lb orzo
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp fennel seed
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- * Easily use 5 cups fresh broccoli florets - they will cook faster than frozen, about 10-15 minutes. You could also substitute broccoli with another veggie or a mix of veggies (cauliflower, bell pepper, fennel, mushrooms, etc)
- Note: if you have any leftover spiced seeds or just simple salted/roasted seeds, they are delicious on top of this pasta!
Items you can prep ahead (optional)
- Slice 1 leek into ½-inch rounds or half moons
- Grate 2 cups cheddar cheese
- Bake the broccoli and leek
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450F or 425F convection. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, add the leek, broccoli, oil, and ½ teaspoon salt. Toss to coat then spread into an even layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until broccoli is cooked and beginning to char in some spots, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 400F. Add the orzo, water, fennel seed, black pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Stir to evenly combine and do your best to evenly distribute the orzo, then cover tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil, add the feta, and give everything a gentle stir to mix. Bake for 10 more minutes, uncovered.
- Top with grated cheese, and bake for 3 more minutes or until the cheese is melted. If you want the cheese to be a little crispy, you can hit it under the broiler on high for a couple minutes towards the end.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving. Top with plenty of black pepper!
Notes
Substitutions:
- To make dairy-free, you can skip the feta cheese and just add ¼-½ teaspoon more salt. Use a vegan cheese alternative for the topping.
- To make gluten-free, use a gluten-free pasta, though the cooking times may vary so use your judgment. You could also make this Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Bake instead!
- Use one chopped yellow onion in place of the leek.
- I think any tiny pasta shape would work (elbows, shells, etc…)
- You can substitute more cheddar or parmesan cheese for the feta.
- Use any sharp melty grated cheese in place of cheddar (fontina, gouda, mozzarella, etc…)
Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Leftovers + Repurposing:
- This bake tends to get pretty mushy as leftovers as a heads up. It helps alot to add some crunch on top like a fennel slaw or pickled red onions or crunchy toasted seeds or nuts.
- Warm it up in the microwave until warmed through. Top with a squeeze of lemon and lots of herbs to bright it up a bit.
- Top with a fried egg!