Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo (One-Pan Recipe): Easy, Rich & Flavorful Dinner Idea
This creamy chicken sausage orzo is a rich and flavorful one-pan dinner loaded with savory sausage, tender orzo, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and melted cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish, One-Pan Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup spinach or kale
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese to taste
- Lemon zest
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in skillet and brown sausage. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in orzo and toast for 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth and simmer until orzo is tender.
- Stir in cream, sausage, spinach, thyme, paprika, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Cook until spinach wilts and mixture is creamy.
- Add cheddar and Parmesan until melted.
- Finish with lemon zest and parsley.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Stir often so orzo doesn’t stick.
- Add extra broth if needed for a looser texture.
- Kale works well instead of spinach.