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A close-up of a bowl filled with One-Pot Garlic Butter Sausage and Orzo Delight, mixed with spinach and topped with Parmesan.

One-Pot Garlic Butter Sausage and Orzo Delight

This recipe makes a simple, flavorful one-pot meal featuring Italian sausage, garlic butter sauce, and orzo pasta. It is designed to be easy to prepare, suitable for dorm cooking, and budget-conscious.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces Italian sausage See note for alternatives
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional, or more to taste
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach packed
  • 1 to taste Salt & pepper

Equipment

  • Large skillet or pot

Method
 

  1. Brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Break it up as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the pot with the sausage and cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the uncooked orzo pasta and chicken broth to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the fresh baby spinach until it wilts into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

If you do not have Italian sausage, you can substitute it with ground chicken or ground turkey. If you use a leaner meat, you may need to add 1 tablespoon of butter when cooking the onions to maintain flavor and moisture.