Lemon Feta Orzo Shrimp – Bright, Creamy Mediterranean-Inspired Dinner in 30 Minutes
Samantha
This Lemon Feta Orzo Shrimp skillet is a quick and easy Mediterranean-inspired dinner made with juicy shrimp, tender orzo, fresh lemon juice, and crumbled feta. It’s high in protein, bursting with flavor, and perfect for light meal prep or a fuss-free weeknight meal. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Mediterranean-Inspired
Servings 4 servings
Calories 375 kcal
- 1 lb raw shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
Cook the Orzo: Boil a pot of salted water and cook orzo according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Sauté the Shrimp: In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add shrimp, half the lemon zest, salt, pepper, and oregano. Cook 2–3 minutes per side or until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
Build the Flavor Base: In the same skillet, add another tbsp olive oil and garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
Add Spinach: Toss in spinach and cook until wilted.
Combine Everything: Return shrimp to the skillet. Add cooked orzo, lemon juice, remaining zest, and feta.
Finish and Serve: Stir in parsley, adjust seasoning, and serve warm.
Secret Tips for Lemon Feta Orzo Shrimp
1. Sear the shrimp quickly for maximum juiciness: Overcooked shrimp become rubbery fast. For this Mediterranean-inspired dinner, cook the shrimp in a hot skillet for just 1–2 minutes per side until opaque. This keeps them tender and lets the bright lemon flavor shine through.
2. Use fresh lemon zest and juice: Don’t rely on bottled lemon juice—it can dull the flavor. Fresh lemon juice and zest bring out the brightness in this lemon feta orzo shrimp dish and balance the richness of the feta perfectly.
3. Stir the feta in off the heat: To keep the texture creamy and avoid a grainy consistency, remove your orzo from the heat before adding crumbled feta. This technique creates a velvety sauce without clumping—essential for a creamy orzo recipe.
4. Reserve some pasta water: Before draining the orzo, save a bit of that starchy cooking liquid. It’s a secret weapon for thinning the sauce slightly and helping everything coat beautifully without adding more cream or fat.
5. Choose good-quality shrimp: For this easy weeknight shrimp dinner, opt for wild-caught or sustainably sourced shrimp. They have better texture and flavor, which is crucial in a dish where shrimp are the star.
6. Add herbs at the end for a fresh pop: Mediterranean dishes thrive on freshness. Toss in chopped parsley, basil, or even dill at the very end to highlight the lemony orzo and feta combo without overpowering the shrimp.
7. Make it meal prep friendly: This dish reheats well if you store the orzo and shrimp separately. For creamy texture the next day, splash a bit of water or lemon juice over the orzo before microwaving. It’s a top-tier 30-minute shrimp recipe that’s just as good on day two.Keyword 30 minute mediterranean shrimp recipe, creamy shrimp orzo recipe, easy shrimp orzo skillet, feta shrimp pasta dinner, healthy lemon shrimp skillet, high protein shrimp meal, lemon feta orzo shrimp, mediterranean shrimp skillet, one pan shrimp orzo, quick shrimp and orzo dinner
