Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo: One-Pan Meal = ZERO Cleanup! 🤩
One skillet, bold flavors, and no mess: this creamy chicken sausage orzo is the ultimate weeknight dinner savior with zero cleanup.
Equipment
- Large skillet or Dutch oven Must be oven-safe if finishing in the oven
- Wooden spoon or spatula For stirring
- Knife and cutting board For prepping vegetables and sausage
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced chicken sausage and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add onion and bell pepper to the same pan. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Stir in orzo to coat. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15–20 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir occasionally.
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan until melted and creamy.
- Return sausage to the pan. Add spinach and stir until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Swap chicken sausage with turkey or plant-based sausage for variation. Add red pepper flakes or jalapeños if you like heat.