One Pan Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet

This sausage orzo skillet requires minimal effort, is super fresh, and has a ton of flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This skillet meal is perfect for busy weeknights and will come together in less than 30 minutes. The one pot meals always require minimal clean up too!
• This parmesan orzo skillet is a filling and hearty meal but is also incredibly fresh. 
• You can add this recipe to your weekly rotation of easy meals or use it for a great meal prep option.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken sausage - we prefer to use chicken sausage for this recipe. Pick any flavor you like! Italian sausage (to make it an Italian sausage orzo recipe), spicy Italian chicken sausage, chicken apple sausages, etc. You can also use pork sausages if you prefer them to chicken.
• Olive oil
• White onion - diced
• Minced garlic - you can use fresh garlic or pre-minced garlic from the grocery store.
• Salt and black pepper
• Zucchini - diced
• Cherry tomatoes - halved
• Baby spinach - chopped. The spinach and tomatoes give a beautiful pop of color to this dish.
• Pesto - we love the Kirkland brand pesto from Costco or Trader Joe's pesto, which you can find in the refrigerated section. If you need a dairy-free pesto, we recommend this one from Trader Joe's.
• Uncooked orzo pasta - if this is your first time cooking with orzo, it's similar to cooking pasta. Orzo is basically a very small pasta, but bigger than rice. It is a favorite pasta for many people, so give it a try!
• Chicken broth or chicken stock - vegetable broth will also work
• Grated parmesan cheese
• Fresh lemon juice
• Balsamic glaze - for serving, optional

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Equipment You’ll Need

• Large skillet with a lid
• Cutting board and knife
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon or rubber spatula

Step by Step Directions

For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Add the olive oil to a large nonstick skillet. Dice the onion and zucchini. Slice the sausage into rounds that are about ¼” in thickness. 

Add the onion, zucchini, sausage, garlic, salt, and pepper to the skillet over medium heat. Stir well and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.

Add the orzo and chicken broth to the pan. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 10-12 minutes (or follow the cooking time according to the orzo package directions), stirring occasionally to ensure the orzo does not stick to the bottom of the pan as the liquid is absorbed.

While the orzo is cooking, chop the spinach and halve the grape tomatoes.

Once the orzo is cooked to al dente, remove the pan from the heat. If there is a little bit of extra liquid, you can cook for a few more minutes or drain off the excess. 

Next, stir in the chopped spinach, pesto, Parmesan, and fresh lemon juice and mix until evenly distributed.

Top with the tomatoes and serve with balsamic glaze if desired.

Tips & Variations

• If you want an extra creamy orzo, simply add a splash of heavy cream. 
• You could also add other veggies such as red bell peppers or green beans.
• Additional garnishes could include red pepper flakes, fresh basil, or fresh parsley.

FAQ 

If you like this orzo chicken sausage skillet, check out…

• Italian pink sauce pasta
• Greek lemon orzo soup
• Chicken apple sausage sheet pan dinner

One Pan Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet

This sausage orzo skillet requires minimal effort, is super fresh, and has a ton of flavor.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 4

Calories 410 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ▢ ½ of a white onion, diced
• ▢ 1 zucchini, diced
• ▢ 12 oz chicken sausage
• ▢ 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
• ▢ 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
• ▢ 1 cup spinach, chopped
• ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ▢ 2 tablespoons pesto
• ▢ 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• ▢ Juice from ½ of a lemon
• ▢ Balsamic glaze for serving, optional

Instructions

 

• Add the olive oil to a large nonstick skillet. Dice the onion and zucchini. Slice the sausage into rounds that are about ¼” in thickness.
• Add the onion, zucchini, sausage, garlic, salt, and pepper to the skillet over medium heat. Stir well and cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
• Add the orzo and chicken broth to the pan. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 10-12 minutes (or follow the cooking time according to the orzo package directions), stirring occasionally to ensure the orzo does not stick to the bottom of the pan as the liquid is absorbed.
• While the orzo is cooking, chop the spinach and halve the grape tomatoes.
• Once the orzo is cooked to al dente, remove the pan from the heat. If there is a little bit of extra liquid, you can cook for a few more minutes or drain off the excess.
• Next, stir in the chopped spinach, pesto, Parmesan, and fresh lemon juice and mix until evenly distributed. Top with the tomatoes and serve with balsamic glaze if desired.

Notes

• Simply store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free orzo. To make it vegetarian, leave out the sausage and use a veggie stock or broth in place of the chicken broth. For a dairy-free option, omit the parmesan cheese and use a dairy-free pesto. For a vegan option, leave out the sausage, use a vegetable broth, a dairy-free pesto, and omit the parmesan cheese or substitute with nutritional yeast. 

NUTRITION

Serving: 17.1oz | Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 45.5g | Protein: 24.1g | Fat: 14.3g | Saturated Fat: 2.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.9g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1131mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 10.8g

The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Orzo Skillet." 

The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided. 

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