20 Best Substitutes For Orzo

Are you looking for substitutes for Orzo Pasta? Well, if you don't have any in your pantry, can't find any in the supermarket, someone has allergies, or want a quick replacement that has a similar taste or texture, then you're in the right place! Here, you'll find the 20 best orzo pasta substitutes!

I absolutely adore Orzo pasta and always have a packet of it in my kitchen cupboards. I love making dishes using it including my Garlic Confit Orzo and my Asparagus Orzotto that are absolute crowd-pleasers! However, sometimes the shops run out of orzo, or a guest doesn't like it, or someone can't eat gluten. So, in this post, I'll share 20 of my top orzo replacements.

WHAT IS ORZO PASTA?

Orzo, a small rice-shaped pasta, has become a beloved ingredient in many kitchens worldwide. People often confuse it with rice! Its versatility makes it a star in soups, salads, and casseroles, adding a delightful texture to various dishes.

Orzo is made from Durum Wheat Semolina, so like the majority of pastas, is not gluten-free. 

This cute little pasta shape is perfect for all kinds of dishes from salads to soups due to its higher protein content, which means it doesn't break down as easily as other pastas do.

HOW IS ORZO COMMONLY USED?

Orzo, with its rice-shaped pasta form, is a versatile ingredient that finds its way into a myriad of dishes. Its small size and smooth texture makes it a popular choice for soups, where it adds body and substance to broths, transforming them into hearty, comforting meals.

Orzo’s little shape also makes it ideal for salads, as it mingles seamlessly with various vegetables, cheeses, and dressings, creating vibrant and satisfying dishes. Furthermore, orzo's adaptability shines in casseroles, where it absorbs flavours from sauces and cheeses, resulting in a rich, creamy texture that is both indulgent and wholesome.

One of my favourite ways to consume orzo is using it in the place of other pasta shapes. For example, making an orzo carbonara, or orzo with meatballs. It is a great type of pasta to soak up all the juices resulting in silky sauces and gorgeously tasty mouthfuls.

A few little examples of how you can prepare orzo:

• Risotto - you can use orzo as the arborio rice replacement. It takes a fraction of the time and is so delicious.
• Pesto Orzo Salad - make a big salad and cook some orzo on the side and add it in once cooled. It's super fresh and tasty.
• Chicken & Orzo Soup - such a comforting dish on a cold day. Make a chicken soup and then add in some orzo to give it some more texture. It's so perfect.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ORZO SUBSTITUTE?

When selecting a substitutes for orzo, consider the specific role it plays in your recipe. If you need a similar texture and size, options like fregola pasta, stellette pasta, and ditalini pasta work well.

For a gluten-free alternative, quinoa, buckwheat, and cauliflower rice are excellent choices. If you prefer something heartier and grain-based, pearl barley, bulgur wheat, and green lentils can offer a satisfying bite.

The flavour of your substitute is crucial too; couscous, with its mild taste, can complement various dishes, while wild rice, with its nutty notes, adds depth to your creations.

Additionally, think about the cooking time – some substitutes, like rice or quinoa, may require longer cooking periods than orzo. Considering these factors ensures that your chosen substitute harmonizes perfectly with the flavors and textures of your recipe.

Lastly, the type of meal makes a huge difference. For example, if you were planning on making an orzo pasta salad, then you could pretty much substitute it with any of the 20 replacements I've suggested below. However, if you're making a bolognese with orzo, then you may prefer to substitute it with another pasta type or grain, rather than a vegetable substitute like cauliflower rice or corn (but it's totally up to you and feel free to use whatever replacement you like best!).

20 BEST SUBSTITUTES FOR ORZO

1. FREGOLA PASTA

Fregola pasta, hailing from Sardinia, is a perfect orzo substitute. Its toasted, nutty flavor adds depth to salads and soups. With a slightly chewy texture, it stands up well to robust sauces. It's also very small, replicating the similar size of orzo.

2. STELLETTE PASTA

Stellette pasta, shaped like tiny stars, provides a great and fun substitute. Its small size makes it a suitable replacement for orzo in soups and saucy pasta dishes, ensuring every spoonful is delightful.

3. MACARONI PASTA

Macaroni, a classic pasta shape, is a convenient substitute for orzo. Its tubular form holds sauces well, making it ideal for pasta salads and cheesy casseroles. I personally love this pasta shape as a replacement for orzo. It's slightly bigger than orzo but keeps its shape, whilst also soaking up all the sauce. It also works great in pasta salads too!

4. COUSCOUS

Couscous, made from semolina wheat, has a light, and fluffy texture. It's a great orzo substitute in salads, absorbing flavours and providing a pleasant contrast in texture. I wouldn't recommend using couscous in creamy pasta dishes or really saucy plates of food, because the couscous might soggy and lose its texture. It's also much smaller than orzo, but it takes a small amount of time to cook, which is a bonus.

5. QUINAO

Quinoa, a protein-packed grain, is a nutritious alternative to orzo. Its nutty flavor and delicate texture make it perfect for salads and side dishes. Once again, wouldn't recommend quinoa as a good replacement for creamy pasta dishes or casseroles. You could use it in soups if you want a bit more texture as well as using it in salads or cold dishes. It's a much smaller grain than the shape of orzo too.

6. PEARL BARLEY

Pearl barley, with its chewy texture and nutty taste, works well in soups and stews. It adds heartiness and depth to your dishes, making it one of the most satisfying substitutes for orzo. The texture is slightly different to orzo, it is more squishy and has less of a bite. It would work well in salads too if you wanted to add a healthy grain.

7. BULGAR WHEAT

Bulgur wheat offers a chewy texture and a slightly nutty flavour. It's a great orzo pasta alternative in salads, absorbing dressings and complementing fresh vegetables.

8. BROWN RICE

Brown rice, with its earthy flavour and firm texture, makes a nutritious substitute for orzo. It's perfect for grain bowls or salads, providing a wholesome base for your favourite ingredients. You could also add it to soups or casserole dishes. However, it may not be the best substitute for creamy pasta-type sauces. It would work better cooking the rice separately, and then adding your sauce and ingredients on top of the brown rice to serve. Brown rice takes much longer to cook than orzo, so bare that in mind when you're choosing a substitute.

9. WHITE RICE

White rice, though softer than brown rice, serves as a versatile orzo substitute. Its neutral taste makes it a suitable base for flavourful sauces and stews, creating a comforting meal. Just remember that white rice takes longer than orzo to cook. Bare this in mind when choosing a substitute. Also, bear in mind that if white rice is cooked for too long, it will turn into mush. So, ensure that you could it separately, and then pair it with whatever you'd like to eat it with. I personally don't find white rice to be a great orzo replacement in salads. I think it would work much better as a side dish to whatever main meal you're cooking.

10. GREEN LENTILS

Although a bit different, green lentils, with their earthy flavour and firm texture, add protein and substance to your dishes. They work well in soups and salads, offering a hearty alternative to orzo.

11. BUCKWHEAT

Buckwheat, gluten-free and nutty in flavor, is another great orzo substitute. Its robust taste pairs well with bold sauces and roasted vegetables, creating a satisfying meal. When cooking buckwheat, I like to use salted boiling water to ensure that it soaks up as much flavour as possible.

12. PEARL COUSCOUS

Pearl couscous or Giant couscous, larger than regular couscous, has a chewy texture that resembles orzo. It's a fantastic alternative in salads and side dishes, capturing flavours and adding a delightful bite. Despite it have a circular shape and being smaller than orzo, it still works well in pasta dishes and can create something quite unique!

13. DITALINI PASTA

Ditalini pasta, small and tubular, works wonderfully as an orzo replacement. Its petite size makes it ideal for soups, salads, and pasta dishes, providing a comforting and flavourful experience.

14. ALPHABET PASTA

Alphabet pasta, a childhood favourite, adds a playful touch to your dishes. It serves as a charming orzo substitute in soups, bringing smiles to both young and adult faces.

15. CAULIFLOWER RICE

Cauliflower rice, made by grating or processing cauliflower, is a low-carb and gluten-free orzo alternative. Its neutral taste makes it a versatile choice, absorbing flavours and adding a light, grain-free element to your recipes. I would personally use this in a similar way to rice. So, cooking it separately, and then serving it as a side to your main dish e.g. salad, sauce, meat, vegetables.

16. BROKEN SPAGHETTI

Broken spaghetti, the remnants of pasta mishandling, offers a unique texture. Its irregular pieces can be used in soups, providing a delightful surprise in every spoonful. Probably best not to use this in salads, but it would work well in all kinds of pasta dishes. I'd recommend cooking the spaghetti al dente, to ensure the pasta doesn't lose its texture.

17. CONCHIGLIE PASTA (MINIATURE SHELLS)

Miniature shells, or conchiglie pasta, are adorable and versatile. Their concave shape captures sauces, making them a delightful orzo substitute in salads and casseroles. They're much larger than orzo and have a more unique shape, so they won't give exactly the same result as an orzo dish, but they're still a great alternative.

18. ARBORIO RICE

Arborio rice, known for its silky texture used in risottos, is a flavourful orzo alternative. Its starchy nature makes it perfect for risottos and creamy dishes, offering a rich and satisfying experience. You could definitely use arborio rice in casseroles and stews, but I'd probably avoid using it in salads or colder dishes because of its creamier texture.

19. CORN

Corn kernels, whether fresh or frozen, bring sweetness and crunch to your dishes. They serve as a colourful orzo substitute in salads and salsas, enhancing both flavour and visual appeal. This is a bit more of a different kind of substitute, but it really is good if you're looking for a low-carb, gluten-free option! Best served cold, but could also work in soups if you don't mind them going a bit soft.

20. WILD RICE

Wild rice, with its nutty taste and chewy texture, is another great substitute for orzo pasta. It's excellent in cold salads, soups, or casseroles, adding depth and a touch of elegance to your meals. Just be aware that it takes considerably longer for wild rice to cook in comparison to orzo. Super delicious though!

PICK THE RIGHT SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CHOSEN DISH

HOT STEWS OR CASSEROLES

With hot stews and casseroles, you want to choose an orzo substitute that has body and works well with the main dish. Remember, all of the orzo replacements have different cooking times. So, make sure that if you're adding them into your stews or casseroles, that you're considering the cooking time. Here are the ingredients I think would pair well with your hot stew or casseroles:

• Fregola pasta
• Stellette pasta
• Macaroni pasta
• Pearl barley
• Bulgar wheat
• Brown rice
• Green lentils
• Buckwheat
• Pearl couscous
• Ditalini pasta
• Conchiglie pasta
• Arborio rice
• Wild rice

PASTA DISHES

For creamy and luscious pasta dishes, you need replacements that are going to withhold the sauce. The ingredients below would be ideal for pasta dishes:

• Fregola pasta
• Stellette Pasta
• Macaroni Pasta
• Brown Rice
• White Rice
• Pearl Couscous
• Ditalini Pasta
• Broken Spaghetti
• Conchiglie Pasta
• Arborio Rice

COLD SALADS

Not all pasta varieties would necessarily work as an orzo replacement in a salad. So, here are my top ingredients that I think would compliment cold salads really well:

• Fregola pasta
• Couscous
• Quinoa
• Pearl Barley
• Bulgar Wheat
• Brown Rice
• Green Lentils
• Buckwheat
• Pearl Couscous
• Cauliflower Rice
• Corn
• Wild Rice

SOUPS

This will be similar to stews, but you'll want a more sturdy ingredient that doesn't disintegrate into your soup.

• Fregola pasta
• Macaroni pasta
• Bulgar wheat
• Brown rice
• Pearl couscous
• Ditalini pasta
• Arborio rice
• Wild rice

ORZOTTO

This is a take on the Italian dish, risotto and instead of using arborio rice, you use orzo to create a silky creamy dish, similar to risotto. However, if you've run out of orzo but want a similar comforting result, see the ingredients I'd suggest to use below:

• Fregola Pasta
• Stellette Pasta
• Macaroni Pasta
• Bulgar Wheat
• Green Lentils
• Pearl Couscous
• Ditalini Pasta
• Broken Spaghetti
• Conchiglie Pasta
• Arborio Rice

SUBSTITUTES FOR ORZO FAQs