One-Pot Chicken Sausage Orzo
One-Pot Chicken Sausage Orzo combines browned chicken sausage, tender broth-cooked orzo, crisp-tender broccoli, parmesan, and herbs in a lightly creamy skillet dinner. It is ready in about 30 minutes and keeps cleanup limited to one pan.
Equipment
- Large deep skillet or Dutch oven with lid
- Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fine cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken sausage pre-cooked links, sliced on a diagonal
- 1.5 cups orzo pasta dry
- 3 cups chicken broth low-sodium
- 3 cups broccoli florets fresh bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil for searing
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese finely grated
- 1 tsp dried herb flakes Italian seasoning or parsley
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Slice the chicken sausage, cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets, grate the parmesan, and measure the broth, orzo, herbs, and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat, then brown the sliced sausage for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Stir in the dry orzo and toast for 1 minute, coating it in the oil and browned pan drippings.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scrape up the browned bits, bring to a gentle boil, then simmer uncovered for 7 minutes.
- Fold in the broccoli, cover, and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the orzo is tender.
- Remove from the heat, stir in parmesan, dried herbs, and black pepper, rest for 2 minutes, and loosen with extra broth as needed.
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days; freeze portions for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Warm gently with 1 to 2 tablespoons of broth per serving and heat to 165°F / 74°C.
Best Tips: Stir the orzo every two minutes, maintain a gentle simmer, and add parmesan after removing the pan from the heat.
Variations: Substitute turkey sausage, add bell pepper or peas, or finish with lemon zest for a brighter flavor.
Texture Tips: Let the finished orzo rest for 2 minutes, then add warm broth if the sauce becomes thicker than preferred.