One-Pot Hidden Veggie Pizza Orzo
If your little one loves pizza, this is such a fun way to serve those familiar flavors in a cozy bowl! 🍕 This one-pot orzo has veggies and red lentils cooked right into the sauce, then plenty of melty cheese on top.
It’s easy, comforting and made in one pot — perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. And it’s definitely not just for toddlers…the whole family can enjoy this one!
One-Pot Hidden Veggie Pizza Orzo
Course: Main, DinnerDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes20
minutesA cheesy one-pot orzo with hidden veggies, red lentils and all those familiar pizza flavors. An easy toddler-friendly dinner the whole family can enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup dry orzo
⅓ cup split red lentils
3 cups broth, plus more as needed
⅔–1 cup marinara sauce or tomato sauce
½ cup grated zucchini or broccoli
½ cup grated carrots
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1½ cups shredded cheese, divided
¼ cup grated Parmesan
Directions
- Soak the split red lentils in hot water for 15–20 minutes, then drain. This helps them cook faster and blend right into the sauce.
- Add the orzo, soaked lentils, broth, marinara sauce, zucchini or broccoli, carrots, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder to a large pot.
- Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 12–15 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes so the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom.
- If the mixture gets too thick before the orzo and lentils are fully cooked, add a little more broth or water as needed.
- Once the orzo is tender and the lentils are completely soft, stir in ½ cup shredded cheeseand the Parmesan until creamy.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded cheese over the top. Cover for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm!
Notes
- Tomato flavor:
If your child doesn’t like a strong tomato flavor, start with ⅔ cup marinara. You can always add more at the end.
Using tomato sauce:
If you’re using plain tomato sauce instead of marinara, you may want to add a little extra Italian seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder for more flavor.
For little ones:
Marinara, broth and cheese can all contain quite a bit of sodium. For babies and younger children, choose low-sodium or no-salt-added options when possible and skip additional salt. Adults can season their portions separately.
Liquid:
Different brands of orzo absorb liquid differently, so keep some extra broth or water nearby and add a splash as needed.
Reheating:
The orzo will thicken quite a bit as it sits. Stir in a splash of broth, water or milk when reheating to make it creamy again.
Cheese:
Mozzarella works really well here for that classic melty pizza flavor. You can also use mild cheddar, Monterey Jack, or an Italian cheese blend. A combination of mozzarella + Parmesan is my favorite for the most pizza-like flavor.
Dairy-free option:
To make this dairy-free, use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese and dairy-free Parmesan, or simply skip the Parmesan. Just make sure your marinara and broth are dairy-free as well.
