One Pot Sausage Orzo is a creamy dish with Italian sausage, orzo pasta, and fresh spinach with added garlic, onion, and a touch of red pepper flakes. Since it is a one-pot meal, it is simple to prepare and clean up! Plus, it can be ready in about 30 minutes. This will surely be a family favorite, perfect for a weeknight dinner. I also have a One Pot Spicy Sausage Pasta you may want to check out!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Italian Sausage: I opted for mild Italian sausage in this recipe, but spicier sausage would be delicious as well. You could substitute ground pork sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or even bratwurst, cut into small pieces. Substitutions may change the flavor profile of the dish, so you may have to adjust seasonings as needed.
Red Pepper Flakes: Red pepper flakes, also known as crushed red pepper, add a little bit of a kick to each bite. You could leave it out if preferred. Or, add more for more heat!
Orzo: Orzo is a type of pasta that looks like large grains of rice. It’s smooth and is often used in soups, salads, and pilafs. In this recipe, I use orzo, but you can use other small pasta like elbow macaroni, small shells, or mini penne if you want. If you choose a different type of pasta, you may have to adjust the cooking time so the pasta is cooked just right.
Sauce Base: The sauce base is chicken broth (or chicken stock for a richer flavor), heavy whipping cream, and parmesan cheese. It is a creamy sauce that coats the orzo pasta and ties all of the flavors together.
Spinach: Although I used fresh spinach in the dish, you could also use frozen. If using frozen spinach, let it thaw. Then, squeeze out any excess moisture before adding it to the pot. Add frozen spinach (thawed) at the same time as you would add fresh spinach.
Can I Add Other Vegetables?
Yes, you can add more vegetables to the sausage orzo. You could add diced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, and/or carrots with the onion. If adding zucchini or squash, add that with the orzo. Or, add cherry tomatoes and/or frozen peas at the end of cooking. If adding vegetables, consider the cooking times so they are not over or undercooked.
What To Serve With Sausage Orzo
To round out the meal, serve sausage orzo with one (or two) of these delicious sides:
- Wedge Salad
- Easy Dinner Rolls
- Garlic Knots
- Focaccia Breadsticks
- Coleslaw
- Roasted Vegetables like green beans, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts
How To Store Sausage Orzo
To store sausage orzo, first, let the dish cool to room temperature. Next, store the orzo in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat it in the microwave, stirring between intervals, or on the stovetop. If reheating on the stovetop, you may need to add a splash of heavy cream, water, or broth. You can also freeze this dish, once cooled, in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months.
One Pot Sausage Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup (136 g) orzo pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups (480 g) chicken broth
- 1 cup (238 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup (100 g) parmesan, freshly grated
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh baby spinach
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- To a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add oil, Italian sausage, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the meat as you go, for about 8-10 minutes, or until the meat is no longer pink. Discard excess grease if necessary.
- Add the pasta, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring often, scraping up the browned bits until the orzo is tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the parmesan and spinach. Stir until the parmesan is melted and the spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley. Serve.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
This recipe is adapted from Salt and Lavender’s Italian Sausage Orzo.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
I loved it! This dish is creamy like risotto, and just a little bit spicy, but you can adjust that to your liking by adding more or less red pepper.
Elizabeth
I will take a few helpings of this, yes, please! I love the creaminess of the orzo and the flavor of the Italian sausage in there. When I make it, I will add a few more red pepper flakes and use spicy Italian sausage.
Bella
Yummmm. This is absolutely delicious. I love how creamy and savory it is. The Italian sausage really transforms this dish!
Selena
Super flavorful and fast! This will be going in my regular rotation for my family.
Annabelle
This dish is so creamy, flavorful, and filling! It even has a little bit of a kick from the sausage and red pepper, which makes it even better!
Oh, so good!! Been waiting until I made this and ate it to write a review and here we are! Had it for dinner tonight and we really enjoyed this! Followed the recipe with no changes and will definitely make this again! Easy and good!! Thanks for sharing, Amanda!