Description
Comforting butternut squash orzo with sausage blends Mediterranean flavors into a hearty one-pot meal. Italian sausage and roasted squash create a rich, satisfying dish you’ll crave on cool evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz (340 g) Italian sausage, casings removed
- 10 oz (283 g) orzo, uncooked
- 1 cup butternut squash puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsps fresh sage, chopped
- 2 tbsps fresh thyme
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep Sausage: Remove casing and slice sausage into uniform 1/2-inch pieces for consistent cooking.
- Sear Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add sausage slices, and cook until golden-brown and crispy on both sides, approximately 6 minutes total.
- Create Sauce Base: To the same skillet, incorporate heavy cream, chicken broth, butternut squash puree, and minced garlic. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Cook Orzo: In a separate pot, boil water and cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain, reserving a small amount of pasta water if needed.
- Combine and Finish: Transfer orzo directly into the creamy sauce, add chopped sage and thyme. Stir gently over medium-high heat for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Season and Serve: Adjust seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with remaining fresh herbs and serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- Slice Sausage Strategically: Cut sausage into uniform 1/2-inch pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Control Skillet Heat: Use medium heat when browning sausage to develop a perfect golden crust without burning the meat.
- Manage Sauce Consistency: Simmer sauce on low-medium heat to thicken naturally and prevent separation of cream-based ingredients.
- Pasta Water Preservation: Keep a small amount of reserved pasta water to adjust sauce thickness if needed, ensuring a silky, smooth final texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg