We LOVE orzo recipes for an easy dinner, and this Sausage Orzo pasta is totally delicious. The recipe is all made in one pot and ready in about 30 minutes.

You’ve all loved my original Sausage Pasta recipe, so I knew we NEEDED an orzo version. Just as delicious, maybe even easier?

For this Sausage Orzo one pot we’re making quick mini meatballs out of the sausages, then cooking everything in the same pan for a silky, rich sauce that just needs a stir now and then.

I hope you’ll love it!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Dinner in about 30 minutes, all made in one pan

Delicious and inexpensive

Crowd pleaser and super easy to make

How we came up with this recipe

Orzo pasta is such a simple and easy way to make a one pan meal, pair that with family favourite sausages and OH HELLO!

I’ve included peppers, onions and tomatoes for vegetables so it’s a complete meal.

We tested this plenty of times and found that the combination of creaminess and tomato sauce worked perfectly with a simple, herby flavours.

Sausage Orzo Ingredients Notes

• Olive oil – Regular type, not extra virgin!
• Sausages – Try to use a good quality, high meat content sausages
• Garlic –  If you want a shortcut, frozen, pre prepared is perfect (it’s what I use mostly as one of my favourite shortcuts). Fresh is fine too
• Veggies – We’re using red onion and red peppers (or bell peppers/capsicum if you’re outside the UK) in this for a little sweetness
• Tinned chopped tomatoes / tomato puree – Any type will work for this. I do find that better quality brands are noticeable if you can
• Herbs – Dried oregano, fresh basil and a pinch of chilli flakes
• Vegetable stock – Any good quality, fairly low salt, vegetable stock is fine. I think Marigold brand is the best around. Made from a cube is fine
• Orzo – The dried kind you find in packets
• Cream cheese – Any brand is fine, low fat or regular
• Parmesan – Grana Padano is a good, slightly cheaper alternative to Parmesan if you prefer

How to make Sausage Orzo Pasta

1. Remove the sausages from their skins (see tips below) and put into a heated pan with oil in small chunks over a high heat (as per the full recipe below).

2. Add the garlic, onion and peppers and cook as per the recipe below.

3. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, oregano, chilli flakes, stock and orzo, put the lid on and cook until the orzo is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

4. Before serving, stir in the cream cheese, sprinkle over the parmesan and shredded basil.

Hint: If the mixture becomes too dry before the orzo is cooked, add a splash of water (a little at a time).

Favourite orzo recipes…

One Pot Pasta

Marry Me Chicken Orzo {One Pot Recipe}

One Pot

Orzo Bolognese {One Pot}

Orzo

Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo

One Pot

Halloumi & Butternut Squash Orzo Bake

Substitutions

• Veggie sausages – You can try this as a vegetarian alternative dish by using chunks of veggie sausages instead. It will work really well
• Vegetables – Feel free to mix up the kind of veggies you add in here, according to your tastes or what you have in and needs using up

FAQs

Ingredients for Peri Peri Chicken Pasta

• Olive oil 
• Chicken breast – Skinless and boneless, cut into bitesized pieces
• Peri peri seasoning – Ready-made type, most supermarkets stock this now
• Red peppers
• Red onion – White is fine if that’d what you have
• Garlic – You can use fresh, frozen or jarred 
• Chicken stock –  A cube is fine
• Chopped tomatoes
• Salt and pepper
• Dried pasta – Your preference as to which kind.
• Cream cheese
• Sweetcorn – Tinned or frozen

How to make Peri Peri Chicken Pasta

1. Fry chicken breast and peri-peri seasoning, then add peppers, red onion and garlic.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan and bring to a simmer. Put the lid on and cook according to the recipe below. Stir in cream cheese and sweetcorn, then serve.

Hint: Cook the pasta until al-dente. Stop cooking when the sauce has reduced and thickened and the chicken is cooked through.

FAQs

Orzo Pasta Salad Ingredients Notes

• Orzo – If you’d like to stick to regular pasta, go for what you have. You could also use fresh pasta or wholemeal pasta instead to increase the fibre content
• Salad – Cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, black olives (optional), mint and chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• For the dressing – Olive oil and balsamic vinegar
• Feta – This gives a lot of flavour which complements the lightness of the salad

How to make Orzo Pasta Salad

1. Boil your orzo according to the pack instructions. Meanwhile chop the salad ingredients.

2. When cooked, drain the orzo and rinse in cold water. Mix everything together and add the oil, vinegar and seasoning.

Substitutions

• Salad mix – I’ve added chickpeas for protein and cucumber, tomatoes and mint for that ultra fresh flavour, but you can add whatever you like. Sweetcorn, radish, peppers… you name it, give it a go!

FAQs

Halloumi Pasta Ingredients Notes

• Olive oil – Sunflower oil is OK too. Not extra virgin as it’s not suitable for frying
• Halloumi – We’ve included 2 packs in the recipe below, but use just 1 if you prefer
• Pasta – I like spaghetti with this but go for whichever you have or like
• Onion – Either fresh or frozen pre-prepared is OK
• Garlic – Same goes for garlic. Fresh or frozen/jarred etc
• Broccoli – Cut this into very small florets, about the same size as the halloumi cubes
• Cherry tomatoes – I like to halve these
• Passata – Don’t use tinned tomatoes here as they don’t have enough time to cook

How to make Halloumi Pasta

1. Fry your cubes of halloumi until golden all over. Meanwhile, put your pasta on to boil.

2. Remove the halloumi from the pan and add more oil and the onions and garlic. Fry until soft.

3. Add the broccoli to the pasta water according to the recipe below. Add tomatoes, smoked paprika, passata and salt and pepper to the onions as per the recipe.

4. When everything is cooked, drain the pasta and broccoli and add into the sauce. Stir well and top with the halloumi cheese cubes.

Substitutions

• Meat – You can add in some extra meat if you like, or you can swap the halloumi for something else salty, like bacon or ham.
• Veggies – Similarly, add any veggies you think would work here.

FAQs