Golden chicken sausage, tender orzo, and crisp broccoli come together in one pan with bright lemon for a quick, satisfying meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1 lb chicken sausage, sliced into rounds
→ Pasta & Grains
02 - 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
→ 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
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced chicken sausage and cook until golden-brown, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate and reserve.
02 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add uncooked orzo to the skillet and toast, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden and aromatic.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
05 - Stir in broccoli florets and return the browned sausage to the skillet. Cover and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes until broccoli is tender-crisp and orzo is al dente.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy, then add lemon juice. Season generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
07 - Let the dish stand for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
