Description
Chicken Sausage, Broccoli, and Orzo Skillet – Quick, comforting one-pan meal with savory sausage, tender broccoli, and orzo pasta. Perfect for a crowd!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) fully-cooked chicken sausage, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 8 oz (225g) orzo pasta, uncooked
- 4 cups (280g) broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2½ cups (600ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the Chicken Sausage Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the sliced chicken sausage in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and caramelized. The sausage is already fully cooked, so you’re just looking for that beautiful color and enhanced flavor. Transfer the browned sausage to a plate and set aside.
- Step 2: Create Your Flavor Base In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30-45 seconds until fragrant but not browned (garlic burns quickly!). Stir constantly to prevent sticking. This step infuses the oil with garlicky goodness that will permeate your entire one-pan broccoli sausage dinner.
- Step 3: Toast and Cook the Orzo Add the uncooked orzo to the skillet and stir to coat in the garlic-infused oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the orzo begins to turn lightly golden. This toasting step adds a subtle nuttiness to your pasta. Pour in 2 cups of the chicken broth, along with the dried oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Add Broccoli and Finish Cooking Add the broccoli florets and the remaining ½ cup of chicken broth to the skillet. Stir to incorporate, then cover the skillet and cook for another 5-7 minutes until the broccoli is bright green and tender-crisp and the orzo has absorbed most of the liquid. If the mixture seems too dry, add a splash more broth or water.
- Step 5: Bring It All Together Return the browned chicken sausage to the skillet, gently folding it into the orzo and broccoli mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes to reheat the sausage. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let the **Chicken Sausage, Broccoli, and Orzo Skillet** rest for 2 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and any remaining liquid to be absorbed.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg