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This One Pot Sausage Orzo is a cozy one-pan meal that is made with tender orzo, zesty Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese creating a creamy, flavor packed dish. It comes together quickly using simple ingredients, making it an easy and comforting weeknight dinner.
If you are looking for a cozy, flavorful weeknight meal that comes together in one pan, this One Pot Sausage Orzo is the perfect dish. This is a recipe my family devoured! They loved the creamy texture.
Tender orzo is paired with zesty Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese and creamy to create a risotto-like pasta dish that is comforting and easy to make. It is a great way to use up pantry staples by customizing the recipe with what you have on hand. You can add a variety of other veggies like bell peppers, roasted red peppers, mushrooms or broccoli. This has the perfect Mediterranean inspired flavor.
Whether you are cooking for your family on a busy night or meal prepping for the week, this simple sausage orzo is a crowd pleasing recipe you will add to your rotation. If you want to try other orzo recipes try this Summer Orzo Pasta Salad, Lemon Orzo Recipe, Fall Orzo Pasta Salad, Greek Orzo Pasta Salad or this Cheesy Butternut Squash Orzo.
Why You Will Love this Sausage Orzo
This one-pot orzo sausage recipe is so easy to make! Here is why we love it:
• One-pot Meal: This is such a great one-pot meal that is packed with flavor, a family favorite that comes together quickly with minimal clean-up. We love a creamy one-pot pasta.
• Flavor Packed: The Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs add so much to this dish. Each bite is full of all of those delicious flavors.
• Easy Customizable: You can easily swap the protein, add veggies or greens along with spices. It is a great meal to clean out your fridge and pantry!
Sausage Orzo Ingredients
You will love this easy recipe and the simple ingredients. It is one of my favorite recipes!
- italian sausage: the sausage provides hearty, savory protein and seasoning. You can use sweet or spicy sausage. Make sure to remove the casings. If you like sausage recipes try these Sausage and Shrimp Foil Packets.
- orzo: the orzo is small and pairs nicely with the sausage. It helps create a creamy, risotto-like texture. For a lighter version you can use whole wheat orzo.
- spices: a mixture of dried oregano, dried basil and fresh thyme add an herbiness and provides sweet, aromatic notes.
- sun-dried tomatoes: tangy, sweet sun-dried tomatoes are added to this dish. They create a tomato flavor and richness to the dish. I like to use sun-dried tomatoes in oil for the extra flavor. You can chop or thinly slice them.
- spinach: fresh spinach adds nutrients and color to this dish. You can leave it out if you don’t have it on hand.
- cheese: freshly grated Parmesan cheese helps create a creamy, salty richness throughout the dish. You can also use shaved Parmesan cheese.
If you like orzo in a main dish try this Mediterranean Orzo Pasta or this Lemon Chicken Orzo or this Lemon Shrimp and Orzo.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- protein swaps: use chicken or turkey sausage, spicy Italian sausage or even plant-based sausage.
- vegetarian option: replace the sausage with chickpeas, white beans or mushrooms.
- cream: make it creamier by using cream cheese, mascarpone or adding more heavy cream.
- veggies: add veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, peas or extra greens like kale or swiss chard.
- cheese: swap the Parmesan cheese for pecorino or mozzarella cheese.
- crunch: add crunch with toasted pine nuts or breadcrumbs.
- Mediterranean twist: make it more Mediterranean by adding marinated olives, capers, artichokes or kalamata olives.
Recipe Tip: Add fresh lemon and fresh herbs when the dish is finished brighten the flavor. If you like lemony pasta dishes try this Lemon Pasta Recipe or this Chickpea Pasta Recipe with Feta.
How to Make One Pot Sausage Orzo
Step 1: Sauté Garlic & Onion: In a large skillet heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add garlic and onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
Step 2: Cook Sausage: Add the sausage, oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until the sausage is cooked through and browned. Drain and set the sausage aside.
Step 3: Cook Orzo: In the same skillet add the orzo and toast for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer with the lid on for about 6-8 minute, stirring occasionally until the orzo is soft.
Step 4: Add Cheese and Cream: Add in the sun-dried tomatoes, sausage, cream and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
Step 5: Add Spinach: Add the spinach and simmer until the spinach is wilted about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the orzo dish. Garnish the creamy sausage orzo with fresh thyme and serve.
Recipe Tip: I suggest not skipping the step where you toast the orzo. I find this helps to add flavor to the orzo and can enhance the nutty flavor which is nice paired with the sausage.
What to Serve with One-Pan Sausage Orzo
- Serve with a light salad like Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese, Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing or this Copycat La Scala Chopped Salad.
- Add these Air Fryer Pita Chips or Baked Pita Chips alongside the orzo.
- If you want a veggie side try this Simple Garlic Parmesan Green Beans, Balsamic Roasted Carrots or these Curry Roasted Cauliflower.
Meal-Prep Ideas
- cook-ahead: You can make the dish ahead of time and put it into portioned containers and refrigerate for later. This makes great lunch or dinner leftovers which taste even better the next day or two.
- prep-ingredients: chop the onions, garlic and the sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time and store in fridge. You also can cook the orzo and sausage and store those separate. When ready to serve you can quickly heat in a skillet and add in the cream, cheese and then wilt the spinach.
For a soup version of this dish try my Sausage Orzo Soup.
How to Store, Reheat and Freeze this Sausage Orzo
- refrigerate: store leftover in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- freezer: you can freeze this creamy sausage orzo in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Add a splash of water or broth when thawing to revive the texture of the pasta.
- reheating: to reheat you can microwave this or you can quickly heat in a skillet with a splash of broth.
Recipe FAQ
Yes! You can use chicken, turkey or spicy sausage. Any of these are great. For that extra flavor and kick I suggest spicy sausage. Make sure to take the casing off of the sausage before cooking.
You can! You can use coconut milk or omit it and use broth for a lighter version.
Make sure to stir occasionally, making sure to scape the bottom of the skillet to loosen the orzo. You also can add a splash of broth to help loosen it.
Read the instructions on your orzo and start checking it about 2 minutes before the package says it will be done to make sure it doesn’t get too mushy. You also want to make sure not to do a hard boil when you are cooking the orzo as this creates extra starch and creates a mushy texture. You want a gentle rolling boil.
More Orzo Recipes
Vegetarian
Tomato Spinach Orzo Soup
Vegetarian
4 Ingredient Cheesy Orzo Recipe
Vegetarian
One Pot Creamy Tomato Herb Orzo
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One Pot Sausage Orzo
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 8 ounces of Italian sausage, casings removed, cooked
- 1 1/4 cup orzo
- 2 1/2 chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach or greens of your choice
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- Fresh thyme for garnish
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add garlic and onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add the sausage, oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until the sausage is cooked through and browned. Drain and set the sausage aside.
- In the same skillet add the orzo and toast for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer with the lid on for about 6-8 minute, stirring occasionally until the orzo is soft.
- Add in the sun-dried tomatoes, sausage, cream and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
- Add the spinach and simmer until the spinach is wilted about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the orzo dish.
- Garnish with fresh thyme and serve.
Notes
- refrigerate: store leftover in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- freezer: you can freeze this creamy sausage orzo in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Add a splash of water or broth when thawing to revive the texture of the pasta.
- reheating: to reheat you can microwave this or you can quickly heat in a skillet with a splash of broth.
- cook-ahead: You can make the dish ahead of time and put it into portioned containers and refrigerate for later. This makes great lunch or dinner leftovers which taste even better the next day or two.
- prep-ingredients: chop the onions, garlic and the sun-dried tomatoes ahead of time and store in fridge. You also can cook the orzo and sausage and store those separate. When ready to serve you can quickly heat in a skillet and add in the cream, cheese and then wilt the spinach.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
