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Top-down close-up of seared chicken sausage rounds and tender orzo in a creamy orange tomato sauce. (Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet)

Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet: The Creamy 30-Minute One-Pan Meal

This Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet features seared sausage, tender orzo, and wilted spinach in a creamy tomato sauce. A perfect 30-minute, one-pan dinner for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken Sausage and Orzo Skillet Ingredients
  • 12 oz Pre-cooked Chicken Sausage sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 1.5 cups Dry Orzo Pasta un-cooked
  • 3 cups Chicken Broth low-sodium
  • 0.5 cup Heavy Cream liquid
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 3 cups Fresh Baby Spinach packed
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 small Yellow Onion diced
  • 3 slices Fresh Lemon thin rounds
  • 0.25 cup Fresh Parsley chopped
  • 0.5 tsp Red Pepper Flakes dried

Equipment

  • 1 Cast Iron Skillet 12-inch seasoned
  • 1 Wooden spoon For deglazing

Method
 

Sear and Sauté
  1. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet. Add sausage rounds and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until dark brown caramelized edges appear. Remove and set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, sauté diced onions until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste for 1 minute until fragrant.
Simmer Pasta
  1. Add dry orzo to the skillet and toast for 1 minute. Add chicken broth, deglazing the pan by scraping up the brown bits.
  2. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 8-10 minutes until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
Final Finish
  1. Stir in heavy cream and fresh baby spinach. Fold until the spinach is vibrant green and wilted.
  2. Add sausage back to the pan. Garnish with lemon slices, parsley, and red pepper flakes before serving.

Notes

Ensure you get a deep sear on the sausage for the best flavor.
Use high-quality heavy cream for the smoothest sauce consistency.