Description
This Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet is a quick and comforting one-pan meal featuring tender orzo pasta cooked in a creamy sauce with flavorful chicken sausage, sautéed vegetables, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it combines hearty protein with creamy textures and vibrant veggies in a simple skillet recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking sausage.
- Cook sausage: Add the sliced chicken sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, then remove it and set aside.
- Sauté onion: In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook until translucent to build flavor.
- Add garlic and bell pepper: Stir in minced garlic and diced red bell pepper, cooking until the garlic is fragrant.
- Toast orzo: Stir in the orzo pasta and toast it lightly for about 2 minutes to enhance its nutty flavor.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes until the orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
- Combine cream, peas, and sausage: Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream, frozen peas, and cooked chicken sausage; cook until peas are warmed through.
- Add Parmesan cheese: Remove skillet from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
- Season dish: Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley before serving to add freshness and color.
Notes
- Use a sturdy large skillet to cook all ingredients evenly.
- Chicken sausage can be substituted with turkey sausage or any preferred sausage.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- If fresh peas are available, they can be used instead of frozen peas.
- Make sure to stir in Parmesan off the heat to prevent it from clumping.
- Serve immediately for best texture, as orzo can continue absorbing liquid if left covered.
