Creamy Cajun Orzo is an exciting fusion of bold spices, hearty orzo pasta, and smoky sausage in a luxurious sauce. This dish that takes your taste buds on a journey through the lively streets of Cajun cuisine, delivering a burst of flavor and a touch of warmth with every forkful. Best part, everything comes together in one pan. All you need are 20 minutes and a few simple ingredients for this delicious weeknight dinner!
For more cajun recipes, try my Cajun Seafood Boil and Cajun Salmon Pasta!
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Everything comes together in 20 minutes! All you need are a few minutes, simple ingredients, and a little love.
- One pan recipe - that's right! That means minimal dishes and little clean up time. Perfect for busy weeknights!
- It's the perfect meal and the ultimate comfort food! There's a nice mix of veggies, protein, and carbs in this dish, making it a complete meal. It's loaded with classic cajun flavor that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
(exact measurements in recipe card)
- Andouille Sausage - you can also use kielbasa if you're unable to find andouille at your grocery store.
- Garlic - chop up the garlic as finely as you can!
- Orzo - many believe that orzo is a form of rice, however, it's is actually a short grain pasta. Cook until al dente for best results.
- Chicken Broth
- Heavy Cream - to enhance that creamy texture!
- Spinach - use fresh spinach for best results, however, frozen spinach works too.
- Corn - corn gives this tasty meal a nice pop of color and extra flavor.
- Cajun Seasoning Blend - be careful with store-bought blend as the amount of salt may vary. Rule of thumb, taste as you go and/or make your own homemade cajun seasoning.
- Green Onions - for garnish!
Variations
- Add more protein! Cut up some skinless chicken thighs or skinless chicken breasts and saute them with the sausage for nice hearty meal.
- Make it cheesy! Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top when you're finished cooking for a cheesy twist.
- Spice it up! Add a dash of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you prefer a dish that's on the spicier side.
- Add more veggies! Add in the holy trinity - diced celery, bell pepper, and onion while sauteing the sausages for added depth of flavor.
Tips
Don't overcook the orzo. When adding orzo to the skillet, be sure to toast the orzo for 2-3 minutes prior to adding the chicken stock and cook for 7-8 minutes, until just al dente. Overcooking will lead to a mushy texture.
Taste and Adjust: Throughout the cooking process, taste the orzo and adjust the seasoning, salt, and pepper to your liking.
Serve Hot: Cajun orzo is best served hot and fresh. Enjoy it as a main dish or as a flavorful side alongside grilled meat or seafood.
Step by Step Instructions
- Slice sausage into ¼ inch slices. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat and add sausage once oil warms. Brown on both sides.
- In the same skillet, add diced garlic and saute for about 2 minutes. Add orzo and toast for 2-3 minutes, then add chicken broth and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cover. Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, corn, and spinach, stirring constantly. Allow the spinach to cook down. If orzo begins sticking to the pan, add an additional ¼ cup of chicken broth. Season with salt and black pepper.
What to serve with Cajun Orzo
This delicious meal is complete on its own, however, I LOVE adding a good side dish with it for added measure. My favorite thing to make with cajun orzo is my Grandma's Buttermilk Cornbread and a side salad for some extra veggies.
Some other really delicious recipes that go well are hush puppies, collard greens, and fried okra for a nice hearty meal!
Feel free to mix and match these side dishes based on your preferences. The key is to balance the flavors and textures, enhancing the overall dining experience with a variety of tastes. Enjoy your Cajun feast!
Storing and Making Ahead
Store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute andouille for your favorite sausage. Keep in mind, andouille is pre-cooked smoked sausage so if you're using raw sausage, you'll have to cook it a bit longer.
Orzo is a short grain pasta.
More Cajun Recipes
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Cajun Orzo
Equipment
- 12-inch Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs Andouille Sausage (sliced)
- 2 tbsps Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1.5 cups Orzo
- 2 ½ cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 3 tbsps Cajun Seasoning
- 1 cup Corn
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach
Directions
- Slice sausage into ¼ inch slices. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat and add sausage once oil warms. Brown on both sides.
- Add diced garlic and saute for about 2 minutes. Add orzo and toast for 2-3 minutes, then add chicken broth and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and cover. Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, corn, and spinach, stirring constantly. Allow the spinach to cook down. If orzo begins sticking to the pan, add an additional ¼- ½ cup of chicken broth. Season with salt and black pepper.
Yum! This Cajun orzo dish was delicious! The perfect summer dinner. Easy, fast and flavorful! I added some frozen peas and lots of fresh parm.
Thanks so much Marley, so glad that you enjoyed it!
My family loved this dish! I didn’t have Cajun seasoning, but I had Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning, so I used that instead, using 1 tablespoon of it. I probably could have gotten away with two teaspoons. I also had to make it dairy free for one of my kiddos, and subbed canned coconut milk for the heavy cream with no problems. This is definitely going on repeat this summer! Great recipe!
I stumbled upon your site only recently and this recipe is the first one I've tried, so I wanted to let you know it is a hit! I loved it, but more importantly, my boyfriend couldn't stop eating it & saying how it's so tasty. Looking at the other reviews, I gradually increased the Cajun seasoning instead of adding it all at once. I don't think I quite hit 3 tbsps, but I'm sure I could have and the flavor would have been great. The one thing I've learned w/ that seasoning (and I'm very new to actual cooking), is that not all "Cajun seasonings" are the same. The salt-based ones can and will ruin any meal. The spice-based ones are what to look for! Thanks for such a tasty meal. Can't wait to try more!
Hi Courtney! Thank you so much for your review, I'm so glad that you and your family enjoyed it! 🙂 And it's so true, not all cajun seasonings are created equally! The salt based seasonings should be used more sparingly!
This came out soooo good! And very quick and easy to make. I used turkey kielbasa for mine and crushed it.
Love it! Thanks so much Crystal!!
This is a favorite in our house! We’ve made this recipe numerous time and took the suggestion of others to reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning. We start with 1/2 and then work our way up from there until we reach the perfect taste. Super quick and comforting meal! My fiancé and I crave it often! Thanks Brittany ????
Thanks so much for your feedback Hannah! I'm so happy to hear this 🙂
Super simple and really tasty! I have a habit of making alterations based on what I have/not measuring much...so I used a mix of kielbasa and Italian chicken sausage, almond milk instead of heavy cream, and seasoned with individual seasonings that would be in a Cajun seasoning to our taste. Excited to eat this all week!
I'm so happy that you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for your feedback! 🙂
This recipe was a hit all around. We admittedly adjusted the Cajun seasoning down, but I intend to bring it up slowly until it hits a spot that's right for us. Will definitely be making it again!
So delicious! Love quick, easy one pan meals. My family thought 3T of Cajun seasoning was way too much. Next time I would use less. I would definitely make this again.
You must have made a serious error when you put 3 TABLESPOONS of Cajun seasoning in this recipe.
It was inedible
Isn't New Orleans the best?! One of my favorite cities in the world!! I don't normally associate corn with cajun food, but it worked great in this recipe. And I love a quick dinner that doesn't dirty a million dishes! We will be making this again for sure.