One-Pot Creamy Orzo with Chicken Sausage

A note from Julie: this recipe is the same as when it first published in July 2013. The photographs have been updated for your viewing pleasure.

I came up with this one-pot creamy orzo chicken sausage recipe one night randomly, as most dinner sometimes seem to be.

It’s usually me opening up the fridge and pulling out ingredients and seeing whether or not they would work together.

I remember when I first made this recipe, back in 2013, chicken sausage was still not really a thing yet.

It was just starting to hit the market but by no means was it popular yet.

I remember I was sent chicken sausage by a company (that now sells at Whole Foods!) to try because they were new to the market. I thought it couldn’t hurt to try.

That was how my love of chicken sausage came to be.

And also how this recipe for one-pot creamy orzo with chicken sausage came to be!

Can I make this with another pasta or grain?

Farro would be awesome with this or even making this with risotto/arborio rice.

Can I add different veggies to this?

Yes, absolutely.

I made this in the summer so I used a lot of seasonal/summer vegetables.

You can use whatever vegetables you like.

What kind of chicken sausage should I use?

Use pre-cooked chicken sausage. Not fresh.

It can be any flavor!

Can I use a different kind of sausage?

If you want to use another kind (such as beef or pork) of pre-cooked sausage, sure.

I can’t have dairy

Sure, no problem. You can omit the heavy cream.

The orzo gets fairly creamy standalone but the heavy cream just gives it an extra splash of decadence.

Is this spicy?

No, but you can make it spicy if you want by adding crushed red pepper flakes to it.

My orzo is crunchy

That means it hasn’t cooked through yet. Keep cooking it!

My liquid is all gone but my orzo hasn’t finished cooking

Add a little more chicken stock/broth, cover, and let it keep cooking.

One-pot creamy creamy orzo with chicken sausage goes great with these side dishes:

Best summer tomato salad

Roasted parmesan carrots

Garlic roasted green beans

Roasted potatoes

Parmesan pistachio kale chips

5 from 3 votes

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One-Pot Creamy Orzo with Chicken Sausage

This creamy orzo with chicken sausage dish is an easy 30-minute weeknight meal that is fully customizable to your palate!

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Servings: 4

Servings are adjustable but please note that results, timing, and cookware may vary when adjusting servings.

Calories: 394kcal

Author: Julie Chiou

Ingredients

• ▢ 1/2 large zucchini, sliced into round discs then quartered
• ▢ 4 oz white button mushrooms, sliced
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ▢ 1/2 large onion, chopped
• ▢ 3 fully-cooked chicken sausage links, sliced into round discs then quartered, any brand
• ▢ 1 1/2 cup orzo
• ▢ 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock or broth
• ▢ 7 oz canned diced tomatoes
• ▢ Splash of heavy cream
• ▢ Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

• ▢
  In a large pot, over medium high heat, heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil and add in the garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the onions and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sausage. Cook until mushrooms have reduced in size, about 2 minutes.
• ▢
  Add the orzo to the pot and toast it for about minute, stirring constantly. Gently add the chicken stock, bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to low and cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until orzo has cooked through. Stir in the diced tomatoes and add the splash of cream (about 1 tbsp). The mixture should still be creamy because of the starch from the orzo. If it is still a bit runny, you can cover and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• ▢
  Serve hot.
• ▢
  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

Nutrition Facts

One-Pot Creamy Orzo with Chicken Sausage

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 394 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Carbohydrates 58g19%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 25g50%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. 

Photographs by Jesse Reilly