One-Pan Chicken Broccoli Orzo (Printable Copy)

A simple one-pan dinner featuring chicken sausage, orzo, broccoli, and bright lemon notes.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 lb chicken sausage, sliced

→ Pasta & Grains

02 - 1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 3 cups broccoli florets
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

→ Liquids

07 - 2½ cups chicken broth
08 - Juice of ½-1 lemon

→ Dairy

09 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Oils & Seasonings

10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp Italian seasoning
12 - ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced chicken sausage and cook until browned, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add uncooked orzo to the skillet and toast while stirring for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Stir in broccoli florets and return sausage to the skillet. Cover and cook for 4-5 minutes until broccoli reaches tender-crisp texture and orzo is al dente.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan until creamy, then add lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes to thicken, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal.
  • The lemon cuts through the richness just enough to make it feel light despite being genuinely filling.
02 -
  • Toasting the orzo before adding liquid is not just a fancy step—it actually changes the texture from ordinary to something with real depth and complexity.
  • Don't skip the 5-minute rest at the end; the sauce thickens and everything tastes more cohesive than if you dive in immediately.
03 -
  • Fresh grated Parmesan melts and combines with the broth to create a creamy sauce without any cream actually being involved.
  • If your broccoli florets are large, cut them smaller so they cook through in the same time as the orzo.
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