
This spinach creamed orzo with sausage is creamy, cheesy, and smoky. This main dish is comforting, simple, and you only need one pot. It doesn’t get better than this. Everyone is going to love this weeknight dinner and you won’t even notice the spinach.
The great thing about this recipe is the simplicity of it. There are not a lot of ingredients and most of them may be in your pantry right now. The pasta used in this recipe is called orzo. It’s my new favorite pasta because it’s small and slightly longer and thinner than a grain of rice and it cooks up in no time at all.
How the creamed orzo is made
You start by building your flavor profile which begins with sautéing the sausage, removing the sausage, and then sautéing the onion in the sausage grease left behind. Once the onion starts to soften and become translucent, you want to deglaze the pan with white wine.
After you’ve let the white wine cook down you’ll add the chicken broth and milk. Let this cook for around 8-10 minutes. As the orzo cooks, it will absorb the flavor of the chicken broth, white wine with hints of the onion and sausage. So good!
Once the orzo is done cooking you’ll need to add the spinach. It may seem like a lot, but it cooks down pretty quickly. Finally, we add the cheese. This part is super important because it brings everything together. It makes the orzo creamy, thick, and cheesy.
Variations
If you’re looking to take this recipe to the next level, I suggest you substitute the Kielbasa sausage for a cajun sausage. A cajun sausage is going to add some heat and extra flavor. You could also add your favorite hot sauce to give it that extra kick.
In addition to adding spinach, you can also add artichokes. Everyone knows that spinach and artichokes go so good together. This combination will be a perfect marriage of flavor and bring the dish to a whole new level.
Want to make this a little lighter on the calories? Try opting for a turkey sausage instead of a pork or beef sausage. There will be quite a bit less calories and not as much oil. If you choose this option you may find that there’s not quite enough oil to sauté the onions without sticking. Instead of adding more oil, simmer the onions in a little bit of chicken broth.
I’m eager for you to give this simple pasta dish a try. I think you’re going to be shocked by how simple it is. I can’t wait for you to try it.
Cheesy and Creamy Sausage Orzo
Ingredients
- 14-16 oz Kielbasa sausage sliced
- 1 onion chopped
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cup orzo
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups spinach
- Garnish with parmesan cheese and scallions
Instructions
- In a pot over medium heat, sauté the kielbasa sausage until browned on both sides and cooked through. Remove and set aside on a paper towel covered plate
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent and beginning to caramelize
- Deglaze the pan with the white wine and stir for 30 seconds or so until fragrant
- Add chicken broth, milk, and season with salt and pepper if needed, bring to a boil.
- Add the orzo cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes
- Once the orzo is done cooking add spinach and stir until wilted. Add the parmesan cheese and stir in the sausage and serve
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