Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo
A heartwarming one-pan meal featuring tender orzo pasta, savory chicken sausage, and vibrant vegetables, all enveloped in a creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz chicken sausage, sliced
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or feta)
- 1 cup spinach or kale
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra grated cheese
- Lemon zest
Instructions
- Sauté the Chicken Sausage: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add sausage, and cook until browned.
- Cook the Aromatics & Orzo: Add onion and cook until softened, stir in garlic, then add orzo and toast for 1 minute.
- Simmer the Orzo: Pour in the chicken broth, add thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper; simmer until orzo is tender.
- Make it Creamy: Stir in cream and cheese until smooth, return sausage to skillet, and mix in greens and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Finish & Serve: Garnish with parsley, extra cheese, and lemon zest, then serve warm.
Notes
Great served with a light green salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette. Can be customized with different vegetables or sausages.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg