This Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal loaded with flavorful chicken sausage, tender orzo, tons of garlic and leafy spinach easily made in just 20 minutes all in one pan!
You all are going to love this cozy, comforting creamy chicken sausage orzo skillet! An easy one pot dinner made in just 20 minutes with pantry ingredients perfect for busy weeknights when you need something quick. Not only is this hearty dish packed with lean protein, but you also get a boost of potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C from the spinach. This has quickly become a meal the entire family loves!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Made all in one pan – this is such an easy one pan dinner made in just 20 minutes! Less clean-up, easy preparation and more convenience.
- Wholesome ingredients – this chicken sausage orzo skillet is packed with protein, leafy greens and so much flavor!
- Family-friendly – a meal the whole family will love that can be served as a main dish or a hearty side dish.
- Great for meal prep – this orzo skillet reheats beautifully making it a great option for busy weeks or to portion out lunches.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- chicken sausage – I used this spicy Italian chicken sausage, but any type of Italian sausage will work in this recipe. You could also use ground chicken, turkey, pork or beef.
- orzo – orzo pasta is small, rice-shaped pasta that cooks quickly and has the magical ability of soaking up all these delicious flavors! If you don’t have orzo, any type of small pasta or even rice will work in this dish.
- garlic – you can use fresh chopped cloves garlic or minced garlic from the jar.
- chicken broth – feel free to use chicken broth, vegetable broth or any stocks you have on hand.
- coconut milk – this helps makes this orzo dish extra creamy. You could also use heavy cream, half and half, or even regular milk.
- soy sauce – adds a boost of flavor!
- parmesan cheese – freshly grated parmesan cheese adds to the creaminess of this orzo and adds more flavor. Other cheese options include asiago, pecorino romano cheese or gruyere.
- spinach – adds a boost of nutrition and a pop of color.
- fresh thyme – this is optional, but adds some earthiness and flavor. Fresh chopped sage, rosemary or parsley would taste great too!
- seasonings – combination of onion powder, red pepper flakes, kosher salt and black pepper. Feel free to use as much, or as little, of the red pepper flakes depending on how much spice you want in this dish.
How to Make Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet
- Cook the chicken sausage. Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken sausage until browned and cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add in minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add in the orzo. Add in the dry orzo and toast in the pan along with the chicken sausage and garlic for about 60 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth (or chicken stock) to deglaze the pan (my FAVORITE pan!) Add in the coconut milk, soy sauce, seasonings and fresh thyme, mixing well.
- Cover and simmer. Bring the orzo mixture to a boil then turn the heat down, cover and let the orzo simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally so that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Orzo is ready once it is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Mix in the spinach and cheese. Stir in the spinach leaves and cook until they are wilted then add in the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes, if needed. Enjoy this creamy orzo skillet!
How to Serve
- Straight from the skillet – this is a true one-pan meal, so you can just serve right from the skillet for a cozy, family-style dinner!
- Pair with a salad – balance out the richness of the orzo and chicken sausage with a crisp, refreshing salad. Try this Mediterranean chopped salad or this simple lemon arugula salad.
- As a side dish – pair it with a simple protein like this air fryer chicken breast, this lemon herb chicken, this garlic butter baked salmon, or this garlic shrimp with asparagus.
- With a side of bread – serve some warm, crusty bread or garlic bread to soak up all the flavorful sauce! Nothing goes to waste.
FAQS
Can I make this dairy-free? Absolutely! Just make sure to use coconut milk (not heavy cream) and leave out parmesan cheese or use vegan parmesan cheese to make this dairy-free.
What if I don’t have chicken sausage? No problem! Feel free to use chicken breasts (sliced or whole), ground chicken, ground turkey or ground sausage. You could also leave the protein out completely for a meatless dish.
What are some other variations? You could add in sun dried tomatoes for even more flavor along with sliced mushrooms, bell peppers or green veggies such as broccoli, asparagus or zucchini.
Is orzo the same as risotto? Orzo is a form of wheat pasta while risotto is a rice dish. While they are cooked very similarly, orzo cooks much faster making it perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
What can I serve with this orzo dish? I like to serve this with a side salad for even more nutrition along with some crusty bread to sop up all that delicious sauce!
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Meal Prep and Storage
Leftovers should be stored in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge and will last up to 3 to 4 days. Keep in mind, the orzo will soak up all the sauce as it sits overnight, so this dish tastes best enjoyed fresh as possible. Feel free to add in a splash of chicken broth or water when reheating.
More Chicken Sausage Recipes
- Spicy Sausage and Veggie Stir Fry
- Harvest Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies
- Cajun Sausage and Cauliflower Rice Skillet
- Grilled Sausage and Apple Pizzas
More One Pot Meals
- Healthy Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Firecracker Chicken Stir Fry
- One Pan Marry Me Chicken and Gnocchi
- One Skillet Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
- Healthy Beef and Broccoli
- Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
Hope you all enjoy this Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet! If you love this as much as we do, please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!
Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz spicy Italian chicken sausage, sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo, dry
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup full-fat canned coconut milk, or heavy cream
- 1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh or dried thyme
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
Instructions
- Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the chicken sausage until browned and cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add in minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add in the dry orzo and toast in the pan along with the chicken sausage and garlic for about 60 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan then add in the coconut milk, soy sauce, seasonings and fresh thyme, mixing well.
- Bring the orzo mixture to a boil then turn the heat down, cover and let the orzo simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally so that the orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Orzo is ready once it is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Stir in the spinach leaves and cook until they are wilted then mix in the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed, and enjoy this creamy orzo skillet!
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Really good recipe. I added marscapone cheese for extra creaminess. Probably will put a little less thyme next time. Otherwise really great dish!
So good! Substituted coconut milk with evaporated milk and left out the thyme only because I’m not a fan. This was a terrific recipe, so glad I came across it!
Very tasty but a little too spicy for my family. I will make this again but cut the black and red pepper in half.
Way too much thyme … it also turned out very sweet but otherwise good
This was wonderful! I used frozen spinach because that’s what I had – skipped the thyme – even my picky boys loved it. One of them suggested adding mushrooms next time (his favorite), which I think would be great. Thank you for the recipe!
I made this vegetarian by using vegan sausage and vegetable stock and it turned out great! Seasonings were spot on to me. Easy recipe and came together super quick!
Loved this! The creaminess from the coconut is perfect. I had big garlic cloves so only used 4 and it was still very garlicky. I also just shook some dried thyme in as I thought 1 tbsp of dried seemed like a lot. Glad I did because it was still super flavorful! Will make again.
Delicious easy weeknight recipe! Whole family loved it!!
Delicious! Everyone in my family enjoyed this. Next time I will double it (at least the orzo) for four people, it just wasn’t enough.
Delicious. Easy to make and the dish had great flavor.