Cheesy Baked Orzo with Bacon & Peas

By carol gorman

OMG this is good! A delicious orzo casserole featuring bacon, peas, Gruyere and parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bacon, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 8 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound orzo
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook 8 minutes, until crispy. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Whisk in flour; cook 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in Gruyere, salt and pepper until smooth. Set aside.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add orzo; cook 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain. Stir into sauce with peas and cooked bacon.

Transfer orzo to a 2-quart baking dish. Top with Parmesan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until bubbling and lightly browned.