Vegan Mushroom Orzo

This easy Vegan Mushroom Orzo is the perfect side dish for busy weeknights or your next holiday meal. Made in the Instant Pot, this vegan orzo dish comes together in under 30 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.

This creamy mushroom orzo has tons of flavor that the whole family will love.

If you are looking for more mushroom recipes, try this easy Brown Rice Mushroom Risotto, Mushroom Pot Pie.

For more vegan pasta dishes, try this Vegan Cacio e Pepe or Roasted Chickpea Lemon Pasta.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Minimal ingredients – This orzo dish comes together with simple ingredients that you can adjust to your liking. Add more veggies, different spices, or add vegan cheese to make this recipe your own.
• One-pot recipe – Making this in the Instant Pot really cuts down on mess and clean up. That is always a good thing if you ask me!
• Allergy-friendly – This vegan orzo risotto is nut-free and easy to make gluten-free too! You can easily adjust the veggies to further customize this recipe to meet your specific dietary restrictions and preferences.

Ingredients

• Orzo pasta – I personally love the texture of the orzo pasta because it is softer than rice, but still has a nice chew to it when cooked perfectly al dente. Swap for gluten-free orzo to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Vegetable stock – You can use stock or vegetable broth as the liquid to cook the orzo. The stock adds lots of flavor, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can swap for water and double the spices used in this recipe.
• Baby Bella mushrooms – These are my favorite mushroom to cook with because of their nice texture and flavor. You can use any mushrooms that you’d like or use a mix of mushrooms for different textures and flavors.
• Shallot – I like the mild flavor of shallots, but you can swap for yellow onions if that is what you have on hand.
• Spices – I use a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, parsley, and thyme for this recipe. You can easily swap for Italian seasoning to make it easier, just make sure to add some garlic for extra flavor. Use fresh herbs whenever you can!
• Salt & black pepper – Don’t forget the salt especially if you are using a reduced-sodium vegetable broth.
• Vegan butter – Used for sauteing the mushrooms and onions and adding extra flavor to this orzo dish. You can use any brand of plant-based butter that meets your dietary needs. Feel free to omit the butter to make this recipe oil-free, just add a bit of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot while sauteing the veggies.
• Optional: Vegan cheese – Vegan parmesan cheese would go well with these flavors.

Helpful Equipment

In addition to measuring cups and spoons, the following equipment is helpful for this recipe:

• Instant Pot or other variety of pressure cooker
• Wooden spoon or spatula

How to Make Vegan Mushroom Orzo

This is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make this recipe including photographs. For the quick version, skip ahead to the recipe card below!

Thoroughly wash your mushrooms and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut to desired size if you did not buy pre-sliced mushrooms. Peel and dice your shallot.

Add the mushrooms and shallot into the Instant Pot with the vegan butter and all of the spices, salt, and black pepper.

Use the Sauté mode to sauté the veggies over medium heat until the shallots are translucent and the mushrooms have reduced and have turned golden brown. Stir often to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Turn off the Sauté mode and add the uncooked orzo and veggie broth in with the cooked mushrooms. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High for 2 minutes.

The Instant Pot will take 10-12 minutes to come to pressure, then will cook the contents for 2 minutes. Once this is done, carefully release the pressure then remove the lid from the Instant Pot.

Check that the orzo is cooked perfectly al dente. If there is any remaining liquid in the bottom of the pot, return to Sauté mode and let the liquid cook off for a couple of minutes. Make sure to continue stirring to prevent sticking.

That’s it! Top with some vegan cheese or fresh lemon zest, serve, and enjoy!

Variations

There are many different ways to change up this dish to make it your own! Try some of these:

• Noodle variations – Swap for whole wheat orzo, a gluten-free alternative, or another small noodle like acini de pepe. Note that the cooking times may vary for these different varieties.
• Veggie variations – Add extra veggies to change the ratio of noodles to veggies in this dish. This vegan orzo would also be delicious with fresh spinach or sun-dried tomatoes added.
• Spice and flavor variations – Add red pepper flakes for some heat, add nutritional yeast for more umami flavor, or add coconut milk for a creamier version of this dish.
• Protein additions – Stir in cooked white beans or cooked lentils for extra protein.

How to Store Vegan Mushroom Orzo

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.

More Tips

• Not Vegan? Swap the veggie broth for chicken broth or beef broth.
• Gluten-Free? Swap the orzo for a gluten-free alternative and make sure to select a certified gluten-free vegan butter.
• Oil-free? Omit the vegan butter and use water to prevent sticking while sauteing the veggies.

FAQ: Vegan Mushroom Orzo