Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo
Creamy pasta lovers, this one's for you. This Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo is packed with smoky chicken sausage, tender vegetables, parmesan, and bold Cajun flavor in a rich, velvety sauce. It's an easy one-pot dinner that delivers big flavor with very little cleanup.
Servings 6
Calories 338kcal
Ingredients
- 2 packs applewood smoked chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 1/4 cup orzo pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 3 tsp cajun seasoning
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1, 14 oz can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Topped with fresh parmesan & green onions
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, add 1 tbsp avocado oil on medium-high heat.
- Slice the sausage into pieces and add to the pan. These are already cooked but we are just going to brown them for about 5-7min. Stirring every few min!
- Once the sausage is crispy, add in the chopped veggies and cajun seasoning. Mix until the seasoning is well incorporated.
- Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until the veggies are slightly tender. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 more minutes.
- Add in the chicken stock, half and half, the can of crushed tomatoes, and the orzo. Mix well.
- Turn on high and bring to a boil. Cook for about 9-11 min stirring every few minutes so that the orzo is properly cooked. Make sure to stir; otherwise, the orzo will stick to the bottom!
- By the end, the pasta will have soaked up the liquid, and the sauce will have thickened.
- Finally, add 1/2 cup of fresh parmesan cheese and stir. Salt & pepper to taste.
- Top with fresh parmesan and sliced green onions. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 3g