Creamy Cajun Orzo and Sausage
This one pot Cajun orzo and sausage is the perfect easy weeknight dinner for busy nights. Made with smoked sausage, tender orzo, and bold Cajun seasoning, this creamy skillet meal is packed with flavor and comes together fast with minimal cleanup. If you love simple comfort food dinners, this easy sausage orzo recipe is one to save!
Servings: 4
Calories: 93kcal
Equipment
- deep skillet
- wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups sliced smoked sausage
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup half-and-half
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned. Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the diced onion and red bell pepper. If needed, add 1 tbsp of more oil. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked orzo to the pan and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly toasted.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in the half-and-half, parmesan cheese, and cooked sausage. Cook for another 1–2 minutes until warmed through.
- Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in the lemon juice and garnish with more parmesan and fresh parsley, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- I find the Cajun seasoning usually makes this salty enough, but you can add a little extra salt to taste if needed.
For extra heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the Cajun seasoning. - If the orzo looks dry while cooking or starts sticking to the bottom of the pan, add a small splash of chicken broth and continue cooking.
- Stir the orzo often while it cooks so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Orzo absorbs liquid quickly and can thicken fast.
Nutrition
Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1287IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 0.4mg