Seared Italian Sausage with Warm Orzo Salad

This warm orzo salad is a complete meal in one bowl, featuring juicy seared sweet Italian sausage and a colorful mix of vegetables. The orzo pasta provides a tender base, while the sausage adds rich flavor that infuses the entire dish.

Carrots, zucchini, bell peppers and grape tomatoes bring freshness and texture, all tied together with a squeeze of lemon. It’s a simple yet satisfying dinner that comes together in under an hour.

Log in to save recipes and build weekly shopping lists.

Ingredients

8 ounce Sweet Italian Pork SausageView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 ounce Orzo PastaView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ZucchiniView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red Bell PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 clove GarlicView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 bunch Grape TomatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce Baby CarrotsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 bunch ParsleyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

unit SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

unit PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Finely chop the parsley. Mince or grate the garlic. Halve, peel and finely chop the red onion. Halve the baby carrots lengthwise. Halve the grape tomatoes. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then slice into 1/4-inch half-moons. Core, seed and remove white veins from the bell pepper, then thinly slice. Cut the lemon into wedges.
2. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Sear the sausages for about 6 minutes, turning until evenly browned. Remove from pan and slice into 1/2-inch rounds on a diagonal. Return sausage to pan and brown slices for 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
3. In the same pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and zucchini; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, for about 4 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add orzo to boiling water. Cook for 7-9 minutes until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup pasta water and set aside.
5. Add bell pepper and garlic to the pan; cook, tossing, for 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender. Add tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Cook about 2 minutes until tomatoes soften.
6. Return sausage to pan with vegetables. Add orzo, a squeeze of lemon juice and a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of sausage?

Yes, you can substitute with chicken or turkey Italian sausage or even a spicy variety for more heat.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

This salad is best served warm, but you can prep the vegetables and cook the orzo in advance. Reheat everything together with a splash of water or broth.

What can I use instead of orzo?

Small pasta shapes like ditalini, stelline or even couscous work well as substitutes.