Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo

Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo is a cozy one-skillet dinner that brings comfort in under 40 minutes. Tender orzo pasta, savory chicken sausage, and a garlic cream sauce make this a quick yet satisfying dish.

Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 35 mins
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil or avocado oil 4 Italian-flavored chicken sausages, sliced into rounds 2 teaspoons garlic paste 4 ounces orzo pasta 1 cup chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream, or as needed 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional) 4 large basil leaves, shredded 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Heat a heavy bottom pot over medium-low heat and drizzle in oil. Fry chicken sausage rounds until browned, about 5 minutes. 2. Add garlic paste and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. 3. Add orzo and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until lightly toasted. 4. Pour in chicken broth and 1/2 cup cream. Stir in all seasonings and chili flakes. 5. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes until orzo is tender. 6. Stir occasionally and add cream if orzo becomes too dry. 7. Lower heat, stir in shredded basil and Parmesan. 8. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Add more cream as needed if reheating leftovers. Pairs well with crusty bread or a side salad. For a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk with cornstarch.

Nutrition

Calories: 959
Fat: 69g
Saturated fat: 34g
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 2951mg
Protein: 49g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 2g