Description
A quick and delightful one-pan meal featuring chicken sausage and creamy orzo pasta, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz chicken sausage, sliced
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (or feta)
- 1 cup spinach or kale
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra grated cheese
- Lemon zest
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add chopped onion to the same pan and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add orzo pasta and toast for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up bits from the pan. Add thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8-10 minutes until orzo absorbs most of the liquid.
- Lower heat, stir in heavy cream and cheese until smooth. Add chicken sausage back in and mix well. Optionally mix in spinach or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, extra cheese, and lemon zest before serving.
Notes
For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt. Feel free to customize with different vegetables or cheese based on your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg