30-Minute Southwestern Sausage Orzo

30-Minute Southwestern Sausage Orzo has tender orzo, sausage, southwestern seasonings, diced green chiles, red peppers, and cheese. With tons of flavor, it’s the perfect satisfying dish when you need to get something on the dinner table quickly!

This orzo dish my favorite pasta recipe on a busy weekday night, especially since it needs only 30 minutes of cooking time. Plus, it’s all made in one pot for less clean-up time! With my kids’s busy school, sports, and dance, it’s something I can pull together fast, and everyone loves it. It also makes for great leftovers throughout the week.

Variations

Protein– chicken or steak

Cheese – use your favorite kind of cheese

Vegetarian – swap the sausage for black beans, add extra veggies like mushrooms and spinach,

Spice– add hot sauce or spicy salsa.

Ingredients in 30-Minute Southwestern Sausage Orzo

• 1 cup shredded cheddar (can also use Colby jack or for more spice use Montery jack
• 1 lb ground pork sausage- can also use chicken sausage or turkey sausage
• 1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
• 1 red pepper, finely diced
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• Optional: red pepper flakes
• Toppings: chopped cilantro, avocado slices, shredded cheese, sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add the sausage to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon, and once cooked, take it out of the pan and set aside. Don’t drain the sausage grease as it will give the orzo more flavor
3. In the same pot, add 1 tbsp olive oil until until warm. Add the diced onion, paprika, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper and stir together making sure the seasonings are well combined with peppers. Cook on medium low until the peppers soften, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute
5. Stir in the uncooked orzo pasta, diced green chilies, and chicken broth, salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
6. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cover the pot with a lid. Let it simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
7. Once the orzo is cooked to al dente, return the sausage to the pot and then stir in the cheese until melted.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
9. Serve the 30-Minute Southwestern Sausage Orzo garnished with optional toppings like chopped cilantro, avocado slices, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Storage of Leftover 30-Minute Southwestern Orzo

This sausage orzo can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. To reheat, place in a pan over low-medium heat. If it’s too dry, add a bit of chicken broth. It also heats well in the microwave.

30-Minute Southwestern Sausage Orzo

Cassie N.

Tender orzo, sausage, southwestern seasonings, diced green chiles, red peppers and cheese

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 lb ground sausage uncooked
• 1 cup orzo pasta uncooked
• 1 4 oz can
• 1 red pepper finely diced
• 1 onion finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp Olive oil

Instructions

 

• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and once cooked, take it out of the pan and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil until until warm. Add the diced onion, paprika, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper and stir together making sure the seasonings are well combined with peppers. Cook on medium low until the peppers soften, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute
• Stir in the uncooked orzo pasta, diced green chilies, and chicken broth, salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
• Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cover the skillet. Let it simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
• Once the orzo is cooked, return the sausage to the skillet and then stir in the cheese until melted.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve the Green Chili Sausage Orzo skillet hot, garnished with optional toppings like chopped cilantro, avocado slices, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Keyword orzo and sausage, sausage and orzo, sausage orzo recipe

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