Description
A flavorful one-pot meal featuring mild Italian chicken sausage, tender orzo pasta, sweet corn, and fresh spinach, all cooked together in a savory chicken broth and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables
- 14 ounces mild Italian chicken sausage
- ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels
- 3 cups packed baby spinach
Grains and Liquids
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
Finishing Touches
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: 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 until browned and cooked through.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion and frozen corn (no need to thaw) to the pot with the sausage and sauté for 10 minutes until the onion is softened and corn is heated through.
- Add Orzo and Broth: Stir in the dry orzo and chicken broth, combining thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the Orzo: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent the orzo from sticking.
- Add Spinach and Wilt: Remove the pot from heat, then stir in the baby spinach. Cover the pot and let it sit for a couple of minutes until the spinach is wilted.
- Serve: Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute mild Italian chicken sausage with turkey sausage or plant-based sausage for different dietary preferences.
- Use fresh corn kernels if preferred; add them with the onion to sauté.
- If you don’t have Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano or a similar hard cheese can be used as a substitute.
- Stirring frequently during simmering helps prevent the orzo from sticking to the pot and ensures even cooking.
- For a creamier texture, add a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of ricotta cheese before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
