Description
Hearty “creamy chicken sausage orzo skillet” brings Mediterranean comfort right to kitchen tables with bold Italian-inspired flavors. Savory chicken sausage and tender orzo blend seamlessly, giving you a quick, satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 5 fully cooked Italian chicken sausage links, sliced
- 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
- ⅓ cup crushed tomatoes (or jarred marinara sauce)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) low-sodium chicken broth, plus more as needed
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) heavy cream
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, carefully searing chicken sausage slices until they develop a rich golden-brown exterior, approximately 5-7 minutes per side.
- Transfer sausage to a separate plate, reserving the flavorful skillet for subsequent cooking stages.
- Introduce orzo to the identical skillet, gently toasting the pasta grains by stirring continuously for roughly 60 seconds to enhance its nutty undertones.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, meticulously scraping accumulated caramelized remnants from the pan’s surface to infuse deeper flavor complexity.
- Reduce heat, cover the skillet, and allow orzo to simmer, occasionally stirring to ensure uniform cooking and preventing potential sticking, until liquid is nearly absorbed.
- Incorporate heavy cream, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, creating a luxurious base for the dish’s sauce.
- Reintroduce golden sausage pieces, then fold in fresh spinach and vibrant cherry tomatoes, allowing vegetables to gently soften.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese throughout the mixture, stirring until it melts seamlessly and transforms the sauce into a velvety consistency.
- Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Garnish with delicate fresh basil leaves for a final aromatic touch, serving the skillet immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose low-sodium chicken sausage for a healthier option, reducing overall salt intake while maintaining rich flavor.
- Substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt or half-and-half to create a lighter, lower-calorie version of the dish.
- Swap spinach for kale or Swiss chard to add variety and different nutritional benefits to the meal.
- Toast orzo carefully to prevent burning, stirring constantly and using medium-low heat for even golden coloration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg