Italian Sausage Orzo Pasta

square image of italian sausage orzo in white braiser with wooden spoon stuck in.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Calories: 432cal

Author: Ashley Fehr

This Italian Sausage Orzo Pasta is a flavorful meal that only uses one pot! With savory sausage, aromatic garlic, and a touch of tomato sauce, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner that’s satisfying and easy to make.

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
1 red bell pepper (finely diced)
½ large onion (finely diced)
375 grams Italian sausage (about ¾lb)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
2½ cups low sodium chicken broth
½ cups tomato or marinara sauce
1½ cups dry orzo pasta
2 cups fresh chopped spinach
2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
Parmesan for serving if desired

Instructions

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the oil.
When hot, add the bell pepper and onion. Cook and stir until softened.
Add the Italian sausage, cooking and stirring until browned. Drain some of the excess grease if desired.
Stir in tomato paste, garlic, parsley, salt, basil, and oregano. Cook and stir 1 minute.
Stir in the broth and tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the uncooked orzo pasta and stir well.
Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring often, until al dente (about 10-12 minutes).
Stir in spinach and cream, if using. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired before serving with Parmesan or as desired.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Vegetables: there's lots of room for more vegetables in here! You can add firmer vegetables with the onion and pepper, and softer or frozen vegetables at the end.

Italian sausage: you can swap this for turkey or chicken sausage, ground beef, or another protein if desired.

Broth: if using salted broth, you may want to reduce the added salt and season before serving.

*This recipe is best eaten immediately but you can reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth to serve later.

Nutrition