Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Bake

This recipe feels a lot like a take on the viral TikTok pasta/Merry Me Chicken recipes. It has lots of flavors that my family likes, including a vegetable that my kids will eat, so I had to try it. For some of us, this was the first time ever having orzo pasta, so yay for new culinary experiences! Everyone liked it, but Scott and I especially thought it was good. 

Creamy Chicken Sausage Orzo Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 lb orzo pasta (uncooked)
• 1 lb chicken sausage, sliced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes, drained
• 1 (5.2 oz) Boursin cheese (Garlic & Fine Herbs)
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Fresh basil, julienned, for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Combine everything in the dish: Add orzo, chicken sausage, zucchini, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, seasonings, cream, and broth. Stir until evenly mixed. Nestle in the Boursin cheese right in the middle.
3. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25–30 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
4. Mix in lemon juice so the Boursin melts into a creamy sauce, taste and adjust salt, then sprinkle Parmesan on top.
5. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
6. Rest 2-3 minutes before serving — the sauce thickens as it sits. Top with fresh basil.

Marsha's Notes:

This orzo pasta does continue to soak up the sauce as it sits and cools, so you may want to add a little milk to your bowl when you reheat the leftovers. I was worried initially that the entire dish was going to be too liquid-y, but prepared as described above, the pasta did eventually soak up the liquid.