Creamy Orzo with Smoked Sausage

Need an easy dinner the whole family will love? This Creamy Orzo with Smoked Sausage is made in one skillet with smoked sausage, tender orzo, mushrooms, zucchini, and creamy Boursin cheese. It’s an easy, comforting weeknight dinner that is packed with flavor and easy for busy nights.

If you love a good pasta and sausage dinner, also try this Skillet Pasta with Sausage or Cajun Sausage Pasta.

I love a good one-skillet dinner, especially on busy weeknights when I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. This Creamy Orzo with Sausage is the perfect dinner for when you don’t want a sink full of dishes!

Made in one skillet, the smoked sausage adds so much flavor, while the Boursin cheese melts into the orzo to make a rich, creamy sauce without a lot of work. Plus, the vegetables are cooked right in, so you’ve got a complete dinner in one pan!

This is a dinner that is comforting, satisfying, and surprisingly easy to make.

Ingredients

• Oil: This is just to get the sausage started. I like to use olive oil or avocado oil.
• Smoked Sausage: I prefer all beef smoked sausage. But feel free to use what you’d like. Some other options are chicken, turkey, or even andouille sausage if you want a kick!
• Vegetables: I use an onion and garlic for flavor, then sliced mushrooms and zucchini. I like the extra flavor, bulk, and nutrition.
• Seasonings: For easy seasoning, add onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and a bit of red pepper flakes for heat.
• Orzo: You need 8 ounces of orzo, which is usually half a box or 1 1/3 cups of dry orzo.
• Broth: I use beef broth since I use beef sausage. You can adapt this according to what kind of sausage you use.
• Boursin: This adds the creaminess to the pasta, as well as great flavor. I usually use the garlic and herb version, but I have used the shallot and chive version, as well.

How to Make Creamy Orzo with Smoked Sausage

STEP 1: Heat the oil in a large skillet, then add the smoked sausage. Cook this, stirring often, to brown the sausage. Then remove it from the skillet.

STEP 2: To that same skillet, add the onion. Cook until it is softened, then stir in the garlic. Then add the mushrooms. Spread them out into a single layer, then let them cook, untouched, for 5 minutes.

STEP 3: After the 5 minutes, stir to combine. Add in the zucchini, as well as the seasonings, and cook for a couple minutes.

STEP 4: Stir in the orzo, then add the broth. Let this all cook together until the orzo is tender.

STEP 5: Add the Boursin to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until the cheese is melted and incorporated.

STEP 6: Add the cooked sausage back into the skillet, and stir everything together to combine.

Tips and Tricks

Stir the orzo: As the orzo is cooking, make sure you stir it several times to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the skillet.

Adjust as needed: If the orzo becomes too thick as it is cooking, add another splash of broth. Just remember that you are also adding the cheese at the end, which will add to the creaminess.

Season to taste: Make sure you taste it before serving, and add salt and pepper, if needed.

Garnish: I like to add on some fresh basil at the end, as well as a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. This is optional, but I think it elevates the dish.

Don’t forget the leftovers: This is best served right after making it, but the leftovers are delicious, as well! The pasta will absorb any liquid, so you will probably need to reheat with some extra broth, or even a splash of cream.

More Orzo Recipes

Shrimp Orzo Skillet
Vegetable Soup with Orzo
Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Lemon Orzo

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Creamy Orzo with Smoked Sausage

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Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

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Need an easy dinner the whole family will love? This Creamy Orzo with Smoked Sausage is made in one skillet with smoked sausage, tender orzo, mushrooms, zucchini, and creamy Boursin cheese. It’s an easy, comforting weeknight dinner that is packed with flavor and easy for busy nights.

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon oil
• ▢ 12 oz smoked sausage sliced
• ▢ 1 small onion chopped
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 8 oz mushrooms sliced
• ▢ 6 oz zucchini cut into half moons
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ Pinch of red pepper flakes
• ▢ Salt and pepper to taste
• ▢ 8 oz orzo pasta
• ▢ 3 cups beef broth
• ▢ 5 oz Boursin cheese
• ▢ Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for serving, optional

Instructions

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage cook, stirring when needed, until browned. Remove from the skillet.
  1 tablespoon oil, 12 oz smoked sausage
• To the same skillet, add the chopped onion. Cook until softened. Add in the garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic
• To the skillet, add the mushrooms. Stir everything together, and try to put the mushrooms in a single layer as much as possible. Let the mushrooms cook, without stirring, for 5 minutes.
  8 oz mushrooms
• Once the 5 minutes is up, add in the zucchini, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes. Season with the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
  6 oz zucchini, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, Pinch of red pepper flakes, Salt and pepper
• Stir the orzo into the skillet. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring often to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender, 10-12 minutes.
  8 oz orzo pasta, 3 cups beef broth
• Once the orzo is tender, add the Boursin cheese. Cook, stirring, until the cheese is melted and incorporated into the orzo. Return the sausage to the skillet and cook another minute or two, until the sausage is heated through.
  5 oz Boursin cheese
• Serve immediately, topped with parmesan cheese and basil, if desired.
  Parmesan cheese and fresh basil

Recipe Notes:

I like to use all beef smoked sausage, but feel free to use whatever kind you like best.

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 674kcal (34%), Carbohydrates: 52g (17%), Protein: 23g (46%), Fat: 41g (63%), Saturated Fat: 19g (119%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 82mg (27%), Sodium: 1841mg (80%), Potassium: 478mg (14%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 9g (10%)

Keywords: creamy orzo, one pot pasta, one skillet recipe