Description
This Easy One-Pan Mediterranean Chicken Sausage Zucchini Orzo is a flavorful, hearty dish combining tender chicken sausage, fresh zucchini, and creamy orzo pasta, all infused with fragrant lemon, dill, and garlic. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner with a Mediterranean twist.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces fully cooked chicken sausage, sliced into coins
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces uncooked orzo
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, plus extra for topping
- 2 cups roughly chopped fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Brown the sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally, until browned on both sides. Transfer the sausage to a clean plate and set aside.
- Cook the zucchini: In the same pan, add the sliced zucchini and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden and tender.
- Add the garlic and orzo: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the orzo and cook for another minute, stirring frequently, to lightly toast the pasta.
- Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth, then add the dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a low simmer. Cook for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring often, until the orzo is al dente and most of the broth is absorbed.
- Finish the dish: Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, chopped dill, and baby spinach. Cook for 1 minute, just until the mixture becomes creamy and the spinach wilts. Return the browned chicken sausage to the pan and gently stir to combine all the ingredients well.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as desired. If the orzo looks too dry, add a splash of broth. Serve the dish topped with crumbled feta cheese, extra dill, and a twist of black pepper. Enjoy your Mediterranean-inspired meal!
Notes
- Use fully cooked chicken sausage for quick and easy browning.
- Feel free to swap chicken broth for vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly (omit sausage accordingly).
- For a dairy-free option, skip the feta cheese or use a plant-based alternative.
- To add extra flavor, sprinkle some red pepper flakes when adding garlic.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.