Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake

This scrumptious Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake recipe consists of savory Italian sausage, tender zucchini, corn, and chopped red pepper in a seasoned chicken broth, baked with Orzo and topped with shredded mozzarella, feta crumbles, and a drizzle of hot honey. It’s a winning one-pot meal idea that the whole family will love.

There are so many great flavors at play with this Sausage Zucchini Orzo Bake. With the Italian sausage lending a big hand, it’s essential to pick your favorite sausage. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Our family likes Mild Italian sausage from Walmart. Then there’s the mild but flavorful red pepper, sweet corn, and tangy feta cheese. Top it with Hot Honey for a bit of heat. This Sausage Zucchini Orzo Bake is a fresh break from the ordinary.

Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake with Corn, Hot Honey, and Feta

With all meals, customizing dishes to fit your family’s tastes is key. You want to create a meal that’s not only delicious but also something to be enjoyed with a smile! This Sausage Zucchini Bake with Orzo is so easy to customize.

Start with the Portiens. Choose an Italian sausage with the perfect balance of heat and flavor. Most Italian sausages have great flavor. Our kids, like most young kids, are sensitive to too much spice. We use a mild Italian sausage, but feel free to try regular or hot for extra flavor—the same with the hot honey. Our younger kids tend to skip it because it can get a bit spicy.

Someone not a fan of zucchini? You can not even taste it! Plus, it blends so well with the baked Orzo pasta that my kids even forgot it was in the dish. Everyone can appreciate a dish that sneaks in extra vegetables! Try swapping out the onion for the peppers if need be.

For the Cheese: Feta cheese may have a distinct taste if your family is used to just cheddar and mozzarella. I like Feta cheese for its tangy and salty profile. It’s also baked up so creamy! I would definitely recommend keeping it, but if your family won’t have it. Add more shredded mozzarella. Or even a bit of pepper jack!

How to Make an Easy Baked Orzo with Sausage and Zucchini

This is an easy one-pot meal for busy families! This meal consists of three main parts: preparing the veggies, browning the sausage, and baking the orzo. Then top with cheese and a bit of hot honey! Enjoy!!

Ingredients for Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 2 medium-large zucchinis
  • This is the perfect recipe for garden zucchini! You can add more or less, and it won’t affect the dish.
• 1 cup corn
  • We were blessed with a great sweet corn crop this year and it worked wonderfully in this sausage zuuchini baked orzo.
• 1 red bell pepper, diced,
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic, or 3 cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
• black pepper
• 1 pound Orzo pasta
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • Made with Better than Boulion chicken broth base.
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 shredded mozzarella cheese
• 5 ounces feta cheese
• Hot Honey, optional, drizzled for garnish
• Avocado or olive oil, if needed

Equipment Used for making this Vegetable-filled Sausage & Orzo Dish

A handy cheese and veggie shredder is always key! We do it the old-fashioned way and use a hand-crank shredder. It finely shreds zucchini and cheese. There’s no worrying about cords; it’s easy to clean, and the investment is low.

Trusted measuring cups and spoons.

What is a Braiser pan? Why do you need a Brasier pan? What can you use instead? An enameled cast-iron braiser pan is more than just another pot or pan. It has a higher wall than most pans, can go from the stove-top to the oven, and it can tackle everything from stewing to shallow frying with ease. This recipe works well for all those reasons! We will fry in it, then use it to hold liquids, and bake the Orzo. Braisers are a dream for making one-pot meals! We LOVE this 5Q Braiser from Crock-pot, but a slightly smaller one will do too. If you do not have a braiser pan, you will need to first brown the sausage and cook down the vegetables in a skillet, and then assemble the ‘casserole’ in an oven-safe dish.

Instructions for Sausage and Zucchini Orzo Bake

First, preheat your oven to 400°F.

Then, in a large enameled braiser pan, start cooking the sausage, breaking it into large chunks. Do not crumble the sausage. The Internal temperature should be 165°F. Once completely browned, use a slotted spoon and transfer the sausage to a dish, and set it aside for later.

Using the drippings from the sausage(or avocado oil if necessary), add in the zucchini, onion, bell pepper, corn, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook the vegetables down until the onions turn opaque, the zucchini wilts, and the liquid from the pan dries up, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Next, add in the chicken broth, lemon juice, orzo, one teaspoon salt, and pepper as desired. Gently stir this until combined.

Making sure all the orzo is covered with broth, bake the dish uncovered at 400°F for about 20 minutes or until the orzo is cooked through and the liquid is absorbed.

Remove the sausage and zucchini orzo bake from the oven, and stir in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Then top the dish with the remaining mozzarella cheese and crumbled feta.

Finally, broil the top of the dish until the cheese melts and turns a golden brown, 2-4 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and serve warm with a drizzle of hot honey. Enjoy!

Storing an Orzo Bake

Store this sausage and zucchini orzo bake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The orzo will absorb the liquid as it sits. Reheat in the oven, over the stove, or in the microwave. This dish reheats well, making it the perfect meal prep recipe for work, school, and life!

More Great One-Pot Family Meals

This Beef Taco Rice Skillet recipe is a quick and flavorful dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It’s hearty ground beef and tender rice, seasoned with taco seasoning and enchilada sauce, making for an excellent Taco Tuesday idea! It’s great by itself or served with chips or burrito style.

Easy Egg Roll in a Bowl is a quick and easy meal idea of savory browned sausage, tender coleslaw mix, soy sauce/coconut aminos, and topped with zesty green onion and sesame seeds! It’s a great one-pot dinner full of whole foods that keep you satisfied!

Ceamy Ground Beef and Bowtie Pasta is full of classic flavors that come together to create a beautiful all-in-one meal. It’s the perfect Midwestern comfort food, combining beef and pasta in a simple yet delicious cream sauce! Serve it with cooked vegetables, a simple side salad, garlic bread, or nothing at all. This ground beef recipe is the perfect last-minute meal for your weeknight!

Soups are a great way to switch up dinner, especially as it gets colder outside. Try our Easy Kielbasa and Bean Soup, Creamy Hamburger Potato Soup, or this Classic Lasagna Soup recipe! Each soup boasts its own unique flavors, all while keeping it simple as a one-pot meal deal!