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Autumn

One-Pan Caramelized Onion, Chicken Sausage & Orzo

There’s something about a one-pan dinner that feels like a little kitchen magic, especially when it tastes as good as this and you’re left with barely any dishes.

by Dani
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Homemade one-pan chicken sausage and orzo with caramelized onions and spinach

This is one of those dinners that tastes like you did more work than you actually did. Caramelized onions, chicken sausage, garlicky orzo, spinach, and a generous amount of Pecorino Romano all cook in one pan, with a squeeze of lemon at the end to keep everything from feeling too heavy.

It is cozy enough for fall and practical enough for a weeknight, which is exactly the sweet spot I want more of in my seasonal cooking.

The onions are worth the extra few minutes

Start the onions low and slow and let them actually develop some color before you move on. That sweetness becomes the base flavor for the entire pan, so this is the one step I would not rush.

Homemade one-pan chicken sausage and orzo with caramelized onions and spinach
Homemade one-pan chicken sausage and orzo with caramelized onions and spinach

A true one-pan dinner

The orzo cooks directly in the chicken broth, which means it absorbs all of the flavor already in the pan and gives the finished dish a creamy texture without making a separate sauce. Spinach goes in near the end, then Pecorino and lemon finish everything off.

Homemade one-pan chicken sausage and orzo with caramelized onions and spinach

Easy swaps

I used caramelized sweet onion chicken sausages when I originally made this, but another fully cooked chicken sausage works too. Choose something that plays nicely with onion, garlic, thyme, and Pecorino rather than a strongly flavored specialty sausage.

Make it work twice

This is exactly the kind of recipe I would intentionally make enough of for lunch the next day. The ingredient list is relatively small, the greens are already built in, and leftovers reheat nicely into a second meal.

Chicken Sausage & Orzo Recipe

One-Pan Caramelized Onion, Chicken Sausage & Orzo

An easy one-pan dinner with caramelized onions, chicken sausage, orzo, spinach, Pecorino Romano, and lemon.
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 package chicken sausages sliced into rounds; caramelized sweet onion sausage works well
  • 1 cup orzo
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh thyme to taste
  • 2 big handfuls spinach or more
  • 1 cup Pecorino Romano grated, plus more for serving
  • 1 splash lemon juice for brightness

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or braiser over low to medium-low heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown.
  2. Add the garlic and sliced chicken sausage. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the sausage is lightly browned.
  3. Add the orzo and toast briefly in the pan, then pour in the chicken broth. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme and stir well.
  4. Cover and cook until the orzo is tender and most of the broth has been absorbed, stirring as needed so the orzo does not stick.
  5. Stir in the spinach, cover again, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted.
  6. Stir in the Pecorino Romano, then finish with a splash of lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving with more cheese on top.

Notes

The original version used caramelized sweet onion chicken sausages. Another fully cooked chicken sausage with a mild flavor profile can be substituted.

Sees the original one-pan orzo reel on Instagram for a look at the process.

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