One-Pot Italian Sausage and Tomato Orzo

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

A comforting one-pot meal with spicy Italian sausage, sweet tomatoes, and tender orzo pasta simmered together for an effortless, flavorful dinner. This italian-inspired meal prep ready in about 30 minutes pairs Italian sausage links, orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 510 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb, casing removed and crumbled Italian sausage links
• 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
• 2 cups, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium, finely chopped yellow onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp, optional red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 1 lb crumbled Italian sausage and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking up with a spoon until browned and cooked through.
2. Step 2: Add 1 finely chopped yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the sausage. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta and 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, cooking for 1-2 minutes to toast the pasta slightly.
4. Step 4: Pour in 4 cups chicken broth, add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Serve immediately.