Description
Italian Sausage Orzo is a creamy, one-pot pasta dinner that makes busy weeknights effortless. Savory Italian sausage, tender orzo, and a velvety garlic Parmesan sauce come together in about 30 minutes for a comforting, family-friendly meal. This stovetop dish minimizes cleanup, delivers bold Italian-American flavor, and finishes with parsley or extra Parmesan for garnish. Perfect for cozy weeknights and hungry families that crave warmth from the kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Italian-style beef or turkey sausage, sliced or crumbled
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley or extra Parmesan
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add sausage and cook until browned and slightly crispy.
- Stir in onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in uncooked orzo and toast lightly for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth and milk and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook 2–3 minutes until creamy and well combined.
- Garnish with parsley or extra cheese before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, whisk in a splash of milk or cream after simmering.
- To lighten the dish, use lean sausage and low-fat milk.
- If the orzo absorbs too much liquid, add a splash more chicken broth.
- Stir in chopped parsley just before serving for color and aroma.
- Tip: substitute gluten-free orzo to make it gluten-free (note: orzo is often not GF).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta/Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop, One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (of 4)
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Italian Sausage Orzo, creamy pasta, one-pot dinner, weeknight dinner, sausage pasta, Parmesan sauce, 30 minute meal, easy pasta, family-friendly, Italian-American cuisine