One-Pan Chicken Sausage Broccoli (Printable Version)

A flavorful one-pan dish with chicken sausage, orzo, broccoli, Parmesan, and a hint of lemon.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 pound 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 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

→ Liquids

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

→ Dairy

09 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Oils & Seasonings

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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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 to 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, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom. 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 another 4 to 5 minutes until broccoli reaches tender-crisp texture and orzo is al dente.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until creamy, then add lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Let the dish rest for 5 minutes to thicken slightly, then garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means minimal cleanup and more time to breathe after a long day.
  • The toasted orzo gives it this subtle nutty flavor that makes people think you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • It's loaded with protein and vegetables, so you're not reaching for snacks two hours later.
02 -
  • Don't add the broccoli too early or it'll turn to mush—those last few minutes of cooking are when it gets the perfect tender-crisp texture.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan makes all the difference in creating a creamy sauce instead of clumpy cheese, so buy a wedge and grate it yourself if you can.
03 -
  • Toasting the orzo dry in the pan before adding broth creates a deeper, almost nutty flavor that elevates the entire dish.
  • Don't rush the browning of the sausage at the beginning—those caramelized edges are flavor gold and worth the extra two minutes.
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