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This One Pot Italian Sausage Orzo Recipe is loaded with orzo, italian sausage, spinach, red peppers and more! This easy recipe is ready in about 35 minutes and is sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients for One Pot Italian Sausage Orzo
This one pot meal is perfect for busy weeknights since it doesn’t require too much cooking time. Plus, this recipe calls for mostly pantry staples making it easy to make last minute. For this recipe you will need:
- olive oil
- red bell pepper
- onion
- ground sausage
- garlic salt
- black pepper
- orzo pasta
- vegetable broth- chicken broth, vegetable stock, chicken stock or beef broth can be used as well
- pasta sauce
- fresh baby spinach
- parmesan cheese
See the FAQ’s below for ingredient substitution suggestions. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
How to Make One Pot Italian Sausage Orzo
First, dice the pepper and onion. Over medium heat, in a large pot or skillet, heat the oil. Add and cook the chopped pepper, onion and sausage until sausage is cooked thoroughly. Break up the sausage into smaller pieces as it cooks. Next, add garlic salt and pepper and cook for additional minute.
Next, stir in the orzo, broth and sauce. Increase to medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer and let cook until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is cooked until al dente.
Once most of the liquid is gone, add your chopped spinach and parmesan cheese. Stir and cook a minute or two until the spinach is wilted. Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
While we typically stick with pork sausages for this recipe, you can use any kind of ground sausage! Try sweet Italian sausage, spicy Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage. For a leaner option try chicken sausage or turkey sausage.
If you use sweet italian sausage this recipe will not be spicy. To make this recipe spicy try a spicy sausage or add some red pepper flakes.
If you want to leave out the spinach you absolutely can and it will not affect the recipe outcome. If you would like to substitute the spinach try fresh kale. Kale also pairs really well with sausage just like spinach.
Orzo is a small pasta shape that almost looks like rice. It can be bought in all grocery stores in the pasta section.
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Looking for more hearty meal ideas that the whole family will love? Try our Sheet Pan Sausage Potatoes and Green Beans, Forbidden Rice and Beans, Garlic Broccoli Lo Mein, Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork, Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce, Turkey Bulgogi Meatballs, Carrot Rice Soup, Sweet and Savory Sweet Potato Hash, Lemon Chicken Orzo, Pineapple Pork Fried Rice, Three Bean Turkey Chili, Cheddar Cheese Grits with Black Beans, Simple Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata and Chicken Noodle Soup.
Italian Sausage Orzo
Italian Sausage Orzo is loaded with spinach, peppers, sausage and is a comforting meal that can be made in one pot!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/3 cups orzo pasta
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup pasta sauce (your favorite)
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in large pan over medium heat.
- Add chopped pepper, chopped onion, and sausage to pan. Cook until sausage is browned and vegetables are tender. Approximately 10 minutes.
- Add garlic salt and pepper. Stir to coat vegetables and sausage. Cook 1 additional minute.
- Add orzo, broth and sauce to pan. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir frequently. The liquid should absorb in around 15 minutes depending on the heat of your stove. Don't cook over high heat otherwise orzo will not fully cook.
- Once most of the liquid is absorbed, stir in spinach and cheese.
- Stir and cook until spinach is wilted. About 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Be sure to have all ingredients prepped before starting to cook. This dish does require a lot of attention while cooking so chopping or preparing ingredients as you go is hard to do.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 464Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 1871mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 19g