You’re going to love this easy, creamy and delicious one-pot orzo made with chicken sausage, onions, spinach and corn topped with grated Parmesan.
One-Pot Orzo with Sausage and Spinach
This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight because it’s quick to prepare and only requires one pot for cooking. Plus, it’s packed with flavor from the sausage, spinach, and corn, and the orzo adds a satisfying and creamy texture. I love one pot meals so much I wrote a whole cookbook with one pot dinners! For more one pot recipes try this one pot chicken and rice, one pot spaghetti and meat sauce and this one pot spaghetti puttanesca. I also have a section here with lots of one pot meals.
Hi there, I’m Heather K. Jones—I’m a dietitian, the nutrition expert for the Skinnytaste cookbooks, and the founder of the weight and wellness program Feel Better Eat Better.
If you struggle with emotional eating or weight worries, be sure to check out my free Masterclass by clicking RIGHT HERE. You’ll find out the exact steps I teach my clients to create a loving relationship with food, your body and yourself, even if you’ve tried everything.
My husband and I have traveled all over Italy (it’s one of our favorite places!) and we just love easy Italian pasta dishes like this orzo that combine simple and fresh ingredients to create something so irresistible.
Italians put so much passion and love into their cooking, and you can really taste the difference! Our favorite restaurants in Italy also use the highest-quality ingredients that are sourced from regenerative farms that are healthier for humans, animals and this beautiful earth.
And when I cook at home, I do the same! For this dish I used organic produce and certified humane sausage from a local regenerative farm (for more on regenerative agriculture check out the awesome film Kiss The Ground).
It’s amazing how combining just a few fresh and healthy ingredients produces such a tasty and satisfying dinner! I serve this orzo with a big green salad and some Italian bread from my local bakery.
How do you cook orzo?
You cook orzo the same way you would any pasta. Add the pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente, approximately 8 to 10 minutes.
Is orzo gluten free?
Because orzo looks like rice, some people assume orzo is gluten-free, but traditional orzo is not gluten free. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, and orzo usually made from semolina flour, a type of flour that comes from durum wheat. However, some brands, such as DeLallo, have created a gluten-free orzo.
Is orzo healthy?
Orzo and pasta can be a part of a healthy diet. It is a good source of carbohydrates, the bodies preferred energy source, and you can pair orzo with lots of different veggies and proteins to create a delicious and balanced meal.
More Orzo Recipes You’ll Love:
- Broccoli and Orzo
- Orzo with Zucchini and Tomato
- Spinach Stracciatella Soup with Orzo
- Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Scampi with Broccoli Orzo
Your comments are helpful! If you’ve tried this healthy One-Pot Orzo recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. And if you took a photo of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can reshare it on my Stories!
One-Pot Orzo with Sausage, Spinach and Corn
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 ounces mild Italian chicken sausage
- ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 3 cups packed baby spinach
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the sausage from the casing and add it to a heavy bottom sauce pot or Dutch oven.
- Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
- Add the onion and corn (no need to thaw) and sauté for 10 minutes.
- Add the orzo and chicken broth, stir to combine then bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom of the pot to make sure the orzo doesn’t stick.
- Remove from the heat, add the spinach, stir and cover for a couple minutes, until the spinach has wilted.
- Top with freshly grated parmesan and black pepper, to taste and serve.
