Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Orzo Bake
A creamy, comforting one-pot dinner featuring chicken sausage, tender broccoli, and orzo pasta baked in a velvety cheese sauce. This easy, family-friendly bake is perfect for busy weeknights and comes together in under 45 minutes with minimal cleanup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fully-cooked chicken sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo pasta
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk or half-and-half
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Gather all ingredients.
- In a large oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced chicken sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes until starting to brown.
- Add diced onion and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in broccoli florets and dry orzo. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring to coat the orzo.
- Pour in chicken broth and milk. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits.
- Bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Add more broth if needed. Orzo should be almost tender and broccoli bright green.
- Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan until melted and creamy.
- Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan evenly on top.
- Transfer skillet to oven (or pour into a casserole dish if needed). Bake for 12-15 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
If your skillet isn’t oven-safe, transfer everything to a 9×13-inch baking dish before baking. For gluten-free, use gluten-free orzo or short-grain rice. For dairy-free, use unsweetened almond or oat milk and dairy-free cheese. Add extra broth if the orzo looks dry before baking. Let the bake rest before serving for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of the bake
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 17
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 41
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 24
Keywords: chicken sausage, broccoli, orzo, creamy bake, one-pot dinner, easy weeknight meal, family-friendly, casserole, comfort food