Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Orzo

Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Orzo is a wholesome one-pan meal that’s packed with protein, fresh veggies, and tender pasta. This dish comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something hearty and homemade. With simple ingredients and big flavor, it’s healthy comfort food the whole family will love.

Love More Dinner Ideas? Try My Potato and Sausage Chowder or this Rich Italian Sausage Potato Soup next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This one-pan meal comes together in just 30 minutes, with orzo cooking right alongside savory sausage and fresh broccoli for minimal cleanup. The crispy edges of the sausage add a boost of flavor, while garlic and Parmesan make the whole dish rich and comforting. Even picky eaters won’t complain, and the recipe is easy to customize with different proteins, vegetables, or pasta based on what you already have at home.

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Ingredient List

For the Main Dish:

• Olive oil (just drizzle it, don’t measure)
• 8 oz chicken sausage, sliced into ¼–½-inch pieces
• 2–3 cups broccoli, chopped however you want
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 cup dry orzo pasta
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

If You Don’t Have These:

• Any sausage works, even the turkey kind
• Frozen broccoli is fine too
• Regular pasta shapes work if no orzo
• Vegetable broth instead of chicken

Why These Ingredients Work

The sausage is already seasoned so you don’t have to think about spices. When you brown it first, all those flavors get stuck to the bottom of the pan and flavor everything else. I used to skip this step because I was lazy – big mistake.

Toasting the orzo before adding liquid was something my neighbor taught me. Makes it taste nutty instead of plain. The broccoli actually stays green and crunchy instead of turning into mush like when I used to boil it separately.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• One big skillet (mine’s probably 12 inches)
• Something to stir with
• A lid that fits the pan
• Knife for chopping

How To Make Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Orzo

Step 1: Brown the Sausage

Put some olive oil in your pan and heat it up good. Add the sausage pieces and don’t touch them for 2-3 minutes. They’ll get brown and crispy. Flip them over and brown the other side too. This part makes the whole dish taste better.

Step 2: Cook the Broccoli

Throw the broccoli in with the sausage. Add salt and pepper. Stir it around for maybe 5 minutes until it turns really green. Don’t let it get soft and gross.

Step 3: Toast the Orzo with Garlic

Add the garlic and the dry orzo. Stir everything together and let it cook for about a minute. You’ll smell the garlic and maybe hear the pasta crackling a little. This is the step that makes it special.

Step 4: Add Broth and Simmer

Pour in the broth and stir. Let it bubble up, then turn the heat down low and put a lid on it. Wait 10-15 minutes until the pasta is soft and most of the liquid is gone. Check it once to make sure it’s not sticking.

Step 5: Finish with Cheese and Serve

Take it off the heat and mix in the Parmesan. It’ll get all melty and creamy. Taste it and add more salt if you need to. Done.

You Must Know

Don’t skip browning the sausage. I tried it once to save time and the whole thing tasted bland. Those brown bits are where all the flavor lives.

Personal Secret: I keep extra broth on the counter. If the pasta looks dry while it’s cooking, I just add a splash more. Better safe than sorry.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Cut the sausage pieces the same size so they cook evenly
• Don’t stir the pasta too much once you add the broth or it gets gummy
• If you double this recipe, use a bigger pan or it won’t cook right
• Fresh garlic tastes way better than the jar stuff
• Let it sit for a couple minutes after you turn off the heat

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

I’ve tried this with different stuff depending on what’s in my fridge:

Add some sun-dried tomatoes and it tastes fancy. Red pepper flakes if you want it spicy. Sometimes I throw in whatever vegetables are about to go bad – bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes.

My kids like it with extra cheese. My husband adds hot sauce to everything. Sometimes I squeeze lemon on mine at the end.

Make-Ahead Options

You can chop everything the night before and stick it in the fridge. Makes dinner way faster the next day. I’ve also made a double batch and portioned it out for lunches. Reheats fine in the microwave.

Don’t try to make the whole thing ahead though. The pasta gets weird and mushy.

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

Different brands of orzo cook differently, so check it while it’s simmering. Some need more liquid, some need less time. Just go by how it looks and tastes.

Add the cheese after you turn off the heat or it might get lumpy. Learned that the hard way.

Serving Suggestions

Honestly, this is a whole meal by itself. Sometimes I make a quick salad or toast some bread if I’m feeling fancy. My kids eat it plain and are happy.

Goes good with white wine if you’re into that. Or just whatever you normally drink with dinner.

How to Store Your Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Orzo

Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in a container. You can freeze it for up to 3 months but I usually eat it way before that.

To reheat, just warm it up on the stove with a little extra broth if it looks dry. Microwave works too – 30 seconds at a time and stir between.

Allergy Information

This has wheat and dairy in it. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and check your broth and sausage labels. For dairy-free, skip the cheese or use the fake stuff.

Watch out for the sausage if you have other allergies – they all have different ingredients.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Yeah, just throw it in frozen. Might take an extra minute to cook through.

What if it gets too thick?

Add more broth or even just water until it looks right.

Can I make this without meat?

Sure, use vegetable broth and maybe throw in some chickpeas or beans for protein.

How do I know the orzo is done?

Taste it. Should be soft but not mushy. If it’s still hard, cook it longer with more liquid.

My kids hate broccoli, what else can I use?

Try peas, carrots, or bell peppers. Even frozen mixed vegetables work.

💬 Made this recipe? Tell me how it went! I love hearing about what you changed or added.