One-Pot Italian Sausage and Tomato Orzo with Spinach

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

A comforting one-pot meal combining savory Italian sausage, sweet tomatoes, and tender orzo pasta, finished with fresh spinach and Parmesan. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs Italian sausage (mild or spicy), olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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

• 12 oz, casings removed Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup dry orzo pasta
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups packed, roughly chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage with casings removed and cook, breaking up with a spoon, for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
2. Step 2: Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the sausage, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes until they start to soften.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup dry orzo pasta, 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes until orzo is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 3 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until spinach wilts and cheese melts.
6. Step 6: Adjust seasoning with extra salt or pepper if needed and serve warm.