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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:
One-Pot Creamy Orzo with Chicken Sausage
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ large zucchini, sliced into round discs then quartered
- 4 ounce (113 g) white button mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ large onion, chopped
- 3 fully-cooked chicken sausage links, sliced into round discs then quartered, any brand
- 1 ½ cup (225 g) orzo
- 2 cups (473 ml) low-sodium chicken stock or broth
- 7 ounce (199 g) 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.
Nutrition
Photographs by Jesse Reilly
I made this last night and it turned out great! Can’t wait to have it for dinner again tonight!
It’s one of my favorites!!
I love chicken sausage and am always looking for new ways to dress it up. This orzo looks fantastic!
Julie, I have been following your blog for a short bit thanks to my mom turning me on to it. This is the first of your recipes that I have had the chance to try and it was a total hit! I thought about skipping the zucchini as I am not usually a fan but I am glad I didn’t — it was delicious and another chance to get a little veggie in for us. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for coming back to let me know how it turned out! So glad you tried it and enjoyed it! :)
Julie-
I just recently found your blog. I made this recipe last night and had to let you know how FANTASTIC it was! Thank you! My picky 5 year old and 2 year old both ate their entire bowl and asked for more! Thanks again! And love your blog!
I’m so happy to hear that Rachel! Welcome to the blog! I’m glad to have you as a reader :)
I made this for dinner last night and even my picky toddler liked it. I added some parmesan cheese at the end too. Thanks for a wonderful, easy, healthy recipe!
So happy to hear this, Bridget!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know!
Beautiful dish, love summer time dinner and maxi dresses too!!
Having time to actually photograph your dinner is such a huge thing! I hate when the time changes in the fall (damn the time change!) and it starts getting dark at 4:30, the worst part about winter.
This looks fabulous! I love orzo. beautiful job lady.
We made this with our own chicken sausage and without cream. Verdict: will definitely make again.
Looks delicious and definitely on the menu for next week. Can I substitute whole milk for the splash of heavy cream? I never have heavy cream but with a 2 year old I always have whole milk…
Yes, you can absolutely substitute the splash of cream with whole milk! Enjoy!
Mmmm…this looks really wonderful! I love how creamy it is. A great filling but light summer dish.