🍗🌾 Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo – One-Pan Comfort Food at Its Best

🎉 Introduction

If you’re craving a dish that’s creamy, savory, and completely satisfying, this Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo is going to be your new weeknight hero. Tender orzo pasta simmers with juicy chicken sausage, garlic, herbs, and a touch of cream for a one-pan dinner that’s rich yet light enough to enjoy any night of the week.

This recipe is perfect for when you want a cozy, filling meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Everything cooks together in one skillet—meaning less cleanup and more time to relax. The orzo absorbs all the flavors from the sausage and seasonings, creating a velvety, flavorful bite in every spoonful.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large deep skillet or sauté pan
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Ladle (for stirring and serving)

🛒 Ingredients

For 4 Servings:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz chicken sausage (sliced into rounds)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 3 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter option)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
• ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

👩‍🍳 Directions

1. Brown the Sausage
   • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
   • Add sliced chicken sausage and cook until golden brown, about 4–5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Sauté Aromatics
   • In the same skillet, add onion and cook until soft (about 3 minutes).
   • Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Cook the Orzo
   • Stir in the uncooked orzo, toasting for 1–2 minutes for extra flavor.
   • Pour in chicken broth and Italian seasoning, then bring to a simmer.
4. Simmer Until Tender
   • Cook orzo for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is tender.
5. Add Creamy Finish
   • Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, spinach (if using), and the cooked sausage.
   • Cook for another 2–3 minutes until creamy and heated through. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Serve
   • Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: ~30 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheat: Warm gently on the stove with a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce.

🥄 Variations

• Veggie Boost: Add mushrooms, zucchini, or roasted red peppers.
• Spicy Kick: Use spicy chicken sausage or add red pepper flakes.
• Cheesy Twist: Stir in mozzarella or fontina cheese for extra gooeyness.
• Lemon Herb: Add a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh basil before serving.
• Protein Swap: Use turkey sausage, shrimp, or leftover shredded chicken.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use another type of sausage?
   Yes—turkey sausage, pork sausage, or even plant-based sausage work well.
2. Do I need to pre-cook the orzo?
   No, it cooks directly in the skillet with the broth.
3. Can I make it dairy-free?
   Use coconut cream and dairy-free Parmesan.
4. Will frozen spinach work?
   Yes—just thaw and squeeze out excess water before adding.
5. Can I use milk instead of cream?
   Yes, but the sauce will be thinner. Whole milk works best.
6. Is this dish spicy?
   Not unless you use spicy sausage or add chili flakes.
7. Can I double the recipe?
   Absolutely—just use a larger skillet to avoid overcrowding.
8. What sides go well with it?
   Garlic bread, side salad, or roasted veggies.
9. Is orzo gluten-free?
   Traditional orzo is not, but you can find gluten-free versions made from rice or corn.
10. Can I make this ahead?
    Yes—cook as directed, then reheat with extra broth or cream.

🏁 Conclusion

This Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo is the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and flavor. With tender pasta, flavorful sausage, and a silky sauce, it’s the kind of dinner you’ll want to make again and again. Best of all, it comes together in one pan—making it just as easy to clean up as it is to enjoy.

🍗🌾 Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo – One-Pan Comfort Food at Its Best

If you’re craving a dish that’s creamy, savory, and completely satisfying, this Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo is going to be your new weeknight hero. Tender orzo pasta simmers with juicy chicken sausage, garlic, herbs, and a touch of cream for a one-pan dinner that’s rich yet light enough to enjoy any night of the week. This recipe is perfect for when you want a cozy, filling meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Everything cooks together in one skillet—meaning less cleanup and more time to relax. The orzo absorbs all the flavors from the sausage and seasonings, creating a velvety, flavorful bite in every spoonful.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

For 4 Servings:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz chicken sausage sliced into rounds
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• 3 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half for lighter option
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup baby spinach optional
• ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)

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Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Large deep skillet or sauté pan
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Knife and cutting board
• Ladle (for stirring and serving)

Method

 

Brown the Sausage

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add sliced chicken sausage and cook until golden brown, about 4–5 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Sauté Aromatics

1. In the same skillet, add onion and cook until soft (about 3 minutes).
2. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Cook the Orzo

1. Stir in the uncooked orzo, toasting for 1–2 minutes for extra flavor.
2. Pour in chicken broth and Italian seasoning, then bring to a simmer.

Simmer Until Tender

1. Cook orzo for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is tender.

Add Creamy Finish

1. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, spinach (if using), and the cooked sausage.
2. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until creamy and heated through. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve

1. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Freeze for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheat: Warm gently on the stove with a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce.

🥄 Variations

Veggie Boost: Add mushrooms, zucchini, or roasted red peppers.

Spicy Kick: Use spicy chicken sausage or add red pepper flakes.

Cheesy Twist: Stir in mozzarella or fontina cheese for extra gooeyness.

Lemon Herb: Add a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh basil before serving.

Protein Swap: Use turkey sausage, shrimp, or leftover shredded chicken.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I use another type of sausage?
Yes—turkey sausage, pork sausage, or even plant-based sausage work well.

Do I need to pre-cook the orzo?
No, it cooks directly in the skillet with the broth.

Can I make it dairy-free?
Use coconut cream and dairy-free Parmesan.

Will frozen spinach work?
Yes—just thaw and squeeze out excess water before adding.

Can I use milk instead of cream?
Yes, but the sauce will be thinner. Whole milk works best.

Is this dish spicy?
Not unless you use spicy sausage or add chili flakes.

Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely—just use a larger skillet to avoid overcrowding.

What sides go well with it?
Garlic bread, side salad, or roasted veggies.

Is orzo gluten-free?
Traditional orzo is not, but you can find gluten-free versions made from rice or corn.

Can I make this ahead?
Yes—cook as directed, then reheat with extra broth or cream.

🏁 Conclusion

This Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo is the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and flavor. With tender pasta, flavorful sausage, and a silky sauce, it’s the kind of dinner you’ll want to make again and again. Best of all, it comes together in one pan—making it just as easy to clean up as it is to enjoy.