One-Pan Chicken Sausage & Parmesan Orzo
This one-pan chicken sausage orzo is an easy dinner made with golden slices of chicken sausage, tender broccoli, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. The orzo cooks right in the skillet with chicken broth, soaking up all that savory flavor while creating its own light, silky sauce. Finished with Parmesan and a little fresh lemon, it's a simple one-pan dinner that's hearty enough for the whole family but doesn't feel heavy.
Ingredients
Instructions
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See How the One-Pan Chicken Sausage Orzo Comes Together
Brown the Sausage → Simmer the Orzo → Add the Broccoli → Finish with Parmesan
Use the step-by-step photos below as a quick visual guide for making this one-pan chicken sausage orzo. Brown the sliced chicken sausage until golden, simmer the orzo in the same skillet, add the broccoli until tender, then bring everything together with Parmesan and fresh lemon.
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Brown the Chicken Sausage
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook for 4–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until nicely browned on both sides.
Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside. Leave the browned bits in the skillet—they'll add flavor to the orzo.
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Cook the Onion and Garlic
Reduce the heat to medium.
Add the salted butter and chopped onion to the same skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
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Toast the Orzo
Add the dry orzo directly to the skillet.
Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until some of the orzo begins to turn lightly golden.
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Simmer the Orzo
Pour in 2 1/2 cups chicken broth.
Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
Stir well, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Cook for about 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Add the Broccoli
Stir in the broccoli.
Cover and continue cooking for approximately 5–7 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, until the orzo is tender and the broccoli is cooked but still bright green.
If the liquid is absorbed before the orzo is tender, add another 1/4 cup chicken broth at a time as needed.
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Finish with Parmesan
Return the browned chicken sausage to the skillet.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
Cook for another 1–2 minutes, stirring gently, until the sausage is heated through and the Parmesan has melted into the starchy broth.
The finished orzo should be silky and glossy rather than thick and heavy. If it gets too thick, stir in a splash of chicken broth.
Taste before adding additional salt since the chicken sausage, broth, and Parmesan already contain salt.
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Serve
Remove from the heat and finish with chopped parsley, additional Parmesan, and freshly cracked black pepper if desired.
Serve immediately while the Parmesan orzo is warm and saucy.
Note
Keep the Broccoli Small
Cut the broccoli into fairly small florets. This helps it cook quickly and makes it easier to get sausage, broccoli, and orzo together in each bite.
Watch the Liquid
Different skillets and cooking temperatures can change how quickly the orzo absorbs broth. Start with 2 1/2 cups and add another 1/4 cup at a time if necessary.
You want a little moisture left in the skillet when you add the Parmesan. The cheese and starch from the orzo will thicken that remaining broth into the sauce.
Don't Add the Broccoli Too Soon
Let the orzo simmer for a few minutes before adding the broccoli. This should keep the broccoli greener and give it a little texture.
For softer broccoli, add it when you add the broth.
Get Some Color on the Sausage
Let the chicken sausage sit against the hot skillet long enough to develop those golden-brown edges. Besides making the sausage taste better, the browned bits left behind flavor the orzo.
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan
Fresh Parmesan melts more smoothly than packaged pre-shredded Parmesan and gives the orzo a silkier finish.
Don't Skip the Lemon
The tablespoon of lemon juice isn't intended to make this taste like lemon pasta. It cuts through the richness of the Parmesan and sausage and brightens the entire dish.
Can I Use Spinach Instead of Broccoli?
Absolutely. Leave out the broccoli and cook the orzo until tender.
When you return the chicken sausage to the skillet, add 3 packed cups baby spinach. Cook for 1–2 minutes, until wilted, then stir in the Parmesan and lemon juice.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
The orzo will continue to absorb liquid as it sits. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth and gently stir it into the orzo to bring back the creamy consistency.
Easy One-Pan Chicken Sausage Orzo for Busy Nights
This one-pan chicken sausage orzo is the kind of dinner that works especially well on a busy weeknight. You've got chicken sausage, pasta, and broccoli all in one skillet, so there's no need to cook a separate vegetable or boil pasta in another pot.
Using fully cooked chicken sausage links also keeps things easy. Slicing and browning the sausage gives you golden edges and leaves plenty of flavor behind in the pan.
The orzo then cooks directly in chicken broth with onion, garlic, and seasonings. As it cooks, it releases starch that naturally thickens the broth. Parmesan and a little salted butter add richness without needing a heavy cream sauce.
Why You'll Love This One-Pan Chicken Sausage Orzo
This dinner comes together in about 35 minutes and uses just one skillet.
The combination of browned chicken sausage and Parmesan gives it plenty of savory flavor, while broccoli adds freshness and texture.
And because the one-pan chicken sausage orzo gets its creamy consistency without heavy cream, it's rich and comforting without feeling overly heavy.
If easy dinners like this are your favorite, browse my Quick & Easy recipes for more simple weeknight meal ideas.
How to Make Chicken Sausage & Parmesan Orzo
The key to this recipe is building the flavor in stages.
First, brown the chicken sausage and remove it from the skillet. Cook the onion and garlic in those flavorful browned bits, then toast the orzo before adding the broth.
Give the orzo a few minutes to start cooking before adding the broccoli. Once everything is tender, return the browned sausage and stir in Parmesan and lemon.
You'll end up with browned sausage, bright broccoli, and tender orzo coated in a light Parmesan sauce—all from one skillet.
What to Serve with Chicken Sausage Orzo
This is already a complete dinner with protein, pasta, and vegetables, so it really doesn't need much alongside it.
A simple green salad would be plenty.
For another easy chicken dinner, browse the Thursday Night Chicken collection.
