Did you know you can make this delicious Shrimp Orzo Recipe entirely in your air fryer? An easy and flavor-packed pasta dish with tender shrimp, spicy chorizo, juicy cherry tomatoes in creamy comforting orzo.

Close-up of cooked orzo pasta mixed with shrimp, chorizo, and cherry tomatoes, garnished with chopped parsley. The dish appears to be well-seasoned and freshly prepared.

Yes, you can cook pasta in your air fryer — and this Shrimp Orzo recipe proves it! The orzo simmers right in the air fryer, soaking up all the garlicky, buttery flavor, while the shrimp stay plump and juicy. With minimal cleanup and maximum flavor, it’s a one-pan wonder you’ll be making on repeat.

I was noodling around with the idea of a shrimp and chorizo recipe after making my air fryer garlic shrimp. I am so, so happy with how it turned that I had to make it again just to share it with you. The entire recipe cooks in the air fryer and it quick, easy and above all delicious.

A black plate filled with Shrimp orzo recipe—featuring orzo pasta, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs—sits on a dark surface with a fork, beige napkin nearby, and a bowl of chili flakes and another serving dish in the background.

Here’s What You Will Need

I cooked this dish in a rectangular cake container that fits my air fryer. If you have an air fryer that has a removable tray (such as the Instant Vortex) you can cook it directly in the air fryer basket.

Butter and olive oil
Red onion and plenty of garlic
Salt, pepper, sweet smoked paprika and chili flakes
Pinch sugar (optional)
Cherry tomatoes
A little wine (optional)
Orzo pasta
Vegetable stock made using vegetable bouillon or stock cube
Large raw shrimp (prawns), shelled and deveined. You can use fresh or frozen and shrimp
Fresh parsley to garnish

A tan ceramic bowl filled with cooked shrimp, orzo pasta, tomato pieces, and fresh chopped herbs showcases a delicious shrimp orzo recipe, with a decorative metal spoon resting inside the dish on a gray textured surface.

How to Make Shrimp Orzo in Your Air Fryer!

Add olive oil and butter in the air fryer basket or a suitable container that fits in your air fryer. Heat for two minutes at 200°C /400°F, until the butter melts.
Stir the salt, paprika, chili flakes, minced garlic, onion and minced chorizo. Cook for a further 3-4 minutes, stirring once, until the chorizo is crisp.

A split image shows diced red onions and chorizo being cooked in a pan on the left, and on the right, the chorizo and onions are browned and well mixed with a wooden spatula—perfect for adding to your favorite Shrimp orzo recipe.

Add the dry orzo pasta and cherry tomatoes. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes to toast the orzo.
Stir in the wine and vegetable broth. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice during that time.

Close-up split image: uncooked orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, and ground meat in a pan; on the right, broth is poured over the mixture. This shrimp orzo recipe highlights vibrant ingredients that are colorful and evenly distributed.

The orzo should now be al dente (cooked but with a bit of a bite). Stir in the shrimp, making sure they are mostly covered with the pasta. Cook for 5 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through.

A square baking dish filled with cooked orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a tomato-based sauce sits inside an air fryer on a marble countertop—a perfect Shrimp orzo recipe waiting to be enjoyed.

Carefully remove the pan from the air fryer basket using these special tongs to avoid burning your hands. Garnish with plenty of chopped parsley and serve with some crusty bread.

Shrimp and orzo pasta in a rich tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes, garnished with herbs and cooked inside an air fryer basket—a delicious shrimp orzo recipe for easy weeknight meals.

Recipe Notes

If you are using frozen shrimp or prawns, you can quickly defrost them soaking them in water. Empty the water and refill a couple of times until the shrimp has thawed.
Shrimp cook quickly and turns from a grey color when raw to an orange-pink when cooked through.
You can replace the chorizo with spicy Italian sausage if you prefer. Remove the casing and crumble the sausage meat before using.
Store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Add a little water and reheat in the air fryer, microwave or a saucepan. Make sure the dish is piping hot before serving.

Orzo pasta mixed with shrimp, chorizo, and a savory cherry tomato-based sauce, garnished with chopped parsley—an irresistible shrimp orzo recipe.

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