Orzo Recipe with Italian Sausage and Peppers (2024)

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Posted: 08/01/2019

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This easy Orzo Recipe with Italian Sausage and Peppers is a filling and quick meal – done in under 30 minutes! This is perfect for kids *and* adults!

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If you love Italian Sausage, you’ll also love this Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potatoes, this Savory Italian Tart, or this Bean, Sausage and Beef Burrito Recipe.
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You all know I love a good weeknight dinner. I love, love, love it when I can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. That is just one reason I love this orzo recipe – 30 minutes and done. And as if that wasn’t enough, I usually have all of these ingredients on hand, so this is a great dinner idea for when you don’t know what to make for dinner!

This recipe has everything you need in one dish – your protein, your grain, your vegetable. I don’t even serve this with a side dish!

This is a winning dinner idea – an orzo recipe that you all need to try!

What is Orzo?

Have you ever been confused by orzo? Is it rice? Or is it pasta?

It is most definitely pasta, although it does resemble rice. Made from flour, but shaped like rice, it’s easy to see how these can be confused. And it doesn’t help that orzo means barley in Italian, although most orzos on the market do not contain barley.

While orzo and rice are different, you will sometimes see orzo being used in risotto-like dishes, substituting in orzo for the rice.

How Do You Cook Orzo?

Since orzo is pasta, you cook it like you would cook most other pastas – by boiling it. Because it is small, you’ll want to make sure you use a colander that will catch the orzo. Most orzos will boil for 7-10 minutes for al dente.

For extra flavor, you can boil the orzo in chicken broth, like it is done in this recipe.

More Orzo Recipes

Orzo with Zucchini, Mushrooms and Sausage
Toasted Orzo Chicken Soup
Shrimp Orzo Skillet
Shrimp with Orzo and Tomato

Orzo with Italian Sausage and Peppers

5 from 1 vote

Author: Deborah

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

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This easy Orzo with Italian Sausage and Peppers is a filling and quick meal - done in under 30 minutes! This is perfect for kids and adults!

Ingredients

▢ 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
▢ 1 1/2 cups water
▢ 8 oz orzo pasta
▢ 2 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 14 oz pork sausage casings removed
▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
▢ 12 oz jar roasted red peppers diced (about 2 peppers)
▢ 2 plum tomatoes chopped
▢ 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
▢ salt and pepper
▢ 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Combine the chicken broth and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid. Place the orzo in a large bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up as it cooks. Once browned and cooked through, add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add the peppers and tomatoes. Continue to cook until warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Pour the sausage mixture over the orzo and stir to mix. Add in parsley. Add some of the cooking liquid, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Serve topped with the Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Notes:

Adapted from Giada’s Kitchen

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 511kcal (26%), Carbohydrates: 53g (18%), Protein: 30g (60%), Fat: 20g (31%), Saturated Fat: 6g (38%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 45mg (15%), Sodium: 1884mg (82%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 5g (6%)

Keywords: Italian Sausage Recipes, orzo recipes

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Meet Deborah

Welcome to Taste and Tell. Here you will find easy, fast and family friendly recipes. I am a believer that anyone can cook and that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated. Come join me in my kitchen! Read More

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Comments

Leslie says
August 8, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Just wondering if I can do fresh peppers instead of jar peppers ?
Reply
- Deborah says
  August 21, 2019 at 1:16 pm
  Yep! You might want to roast it yourself before, though, unless you like the peppers with some bite to them.
  Reply
Renee says
November 3, 2018 at 6:37 am
I really like this recipe but not sure my grandchildren would like the sausage. Was thinking of trying chicken instead. Any suggestions?
Reply
- Deborah says
  November 12, 2018 at 11:07 pm
  I think chicken would be a fine substitution!
  Reply
Rachelle says
December 12, 2017 at 10:56 pm

I made this dish tonight, had everything but the fresh parsley, and I incorporated spinach. Simply, DELICIOUS!!! Thank you for this recipe, it’s time-saving and did I say DELICIOUS!
Reply
Kevin says
November 22, 2008 at 2:31 am
That pasta sounds so tasty!
Reply
Mrs. L says
November 19, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I love orzo, I make something with it at least once a month. This recipe sounds great.
Reply
Dragon says
November 17, 2008 at 2:57 am
Giada knows what she’s doing and so do you. Great job!
Reply
Megan says
November 16, 2008 at 7:54 pm
My hubby would love this and I have some garlic sausage to use up. Great looking recipe!
Reply
See Also
These Ground Turkey Recipes Are So Good, You'll Say Buh-Bye to Ground Beef
MeetaK says
November 16, 2008 at 5:12 pm
looks great and the best thing is i have all of the ingredients right now. looks like this is going to be dinner!
Reply
ashley says
November 16, 2008 at 4:40 pm
this looks really good! i’ve always been pleased with giada’s recipes!
Reply
Maria says
November 16, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I am loving giada’s new book! I will have to try this one next.
Reply
Grace says
November 16, 2008 at 3:41 pm
i’m having lots of trouble finding all kinds of fresh herbs and produce these days, and when i do, they’re certainly not reasonably-priced. what a mess. meanwhile, this dish is not a mess–it seems like the perfect combination of ingredients. 🙂
Reply
Kelly-Jane says
November 16, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Looks lovely 🙂
I’ve got this book, but not cooked from it….yet!
Reply
Bellini Valli says
November 16, 2008 at 1:46 pm
My flat leaf parsley is still alive on my patio deck despite no water or sunlight…can you imagine:D Your orzo dish from Giada sounds like something I’d like to try for sure:D
Reply
Mary says
November 16, 2008 at 3:52 am
What a nice recipe. The combination sounds delicious.
Reply
Abby says
November 15, 2008 at 11:02 pm
That looks REALLY good – so good for cold nights!
Reply
Psychgrad says
November 15, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I haven’t noticed any difference in the availability of flat leaf parsley. I know that Italian recipes mainly call for flat leaf parsley, but I can’t really tell a difference between the tastes of flat- and curled-leaf parsley.
I just made orzo the other day and now I want more!
Reply
JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says
November 15, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Orzo and sausage with tomatoes? Gee, I can’t see how anyone would hate this dish! That looks awesome!!!!
Reply
Patsyk says
November 15, 2008 at 6:30 pm
What a great weeknight recipe! I could totally see serving this as a simple meal on a busy night. Yum!
Reply
LilSis says
November 15, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Thanks for sharing that recipe! It looks like one my family would love. I make one of Giadas’ other Orzo recipes with the tomatoes, peas, and cream and it’s always a big hit. I love cooking with orzo and will definitely give this one a try.
P.S. I love your blog! I just recently subscribed. Visit us at http://www.bigsislilsis.com
Reply
ttfn300 says
November 15, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Mmmm, delish 🙂
Reply
Mary says
November 15, 2008 at 1:22 pm
This looks delicious! I not only couldn’t find flat leaf parsley, but I couldn’t find a flat leaf parsley plant. I got a cilantro plant too, but that barely lasted 2 weeks before I killed it.
Reply
Paula says
November 15, 2008 at 7:25 am
Love your orzo! That’s such a fun word to say … ORZO! I love pasta prepared in chicken broth. Funny you mentioned the parsley; I couldn’t find any last weekend and settled for the regular stuff.
Reply
noble pig says
November 15, 2008 at 2:34 am
No I haven’t had trouble with parsley, that’s odd?
This sounds like a perfect Fall meal!
Reply
Gabi says
November 15, 2008 at 12:22 am
That sounds delicious. I haven’t had a problem finding it here in SLC.Of course I still have a bit in the garden under the fall leaves until we have a heavy frost.
Hope you’re feeling well! I feel like we should have Hive baby shower for you!
xo
Reply
kamailesfood says
November 14, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Sounds yummy! Have you tried Harmons? They’re usually pretty good about stocking a variety of stuff. I can’t remember if there’s one in Utah county though.
Reply
Ingrid says
November 14, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Looks wonderful! I actually just had for the first time orzo and loved it. I haven’t made it at home yet. I think now’s the time. I’m pretty sure my three will love this.
~ingrid
Reply
Erin says
November 14, 2008 at 8:05 pm
This looks so good! What a great dinner idea!
Reply
Colleen says
November 14, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I love Giada’s recipes! This looks like a great one!
Reply
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
November 14, 2008 at 7:03 pm
A scrummy dish! That combo looks really good!
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply
kat says
November 14, 2008 at 6:25 pm
boy they had tons of flat leaf parsley in my grocery store yesterday & I discovered despite the fact it snowed I still have a ton in the garden
Reply