Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo with Chicken Sausage
Updated Aug 11, 2025
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This roasted butternut squash orzo is the perfect fall recipe! It tastes like risotto and cooks in a similar way as well. Blending the roasted squash creates such a creamy sauce without using any cream! Feel free to use any flavor of chicken sausage, swap the sausage for a different protein, or remove entirely for a vegetarian option. This recipe would also be good with other veggies such as spinach or kale. I hope you give this one a try and let me know how it turns out if you do!
Butternut Squash Orzo with Chicken Sausage
Ingredients
- 12 oz Butternut Squash, cubed into bite-sized pieces; I used Trader Joe's Pre-Cut Butternut Squash
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 12 oz Chicken Sausage, sliced; I used the Trader Joe's Smoked Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage
- 1 teaspoon Maple Syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne, use more or less depending on heat preference
- 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Rosemary, chopped, additional to garnish
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta, uncooked
- 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place cubed butternut squash on one half of a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Slice chicken sausage and place on the other side of the baking sheet. Bake the squash and sausage for 30 minutes.
- Add roasted butternut squash, maple syrup, cayenne, nutmeg, and chicken broth to a blender. Puree until smooth.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the butternut squash puree, fresh rosemary, and the orzo.
- Stir orzo often, adding water or chicken broth as it cooks as needed. Cook until liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is al dente.
- Serve immediately and top with parmesan cheese, additional rosemary, and the sliced roasted chicken sausage.
Video
@carolbeecooks Can’t recommend this butternut squash orzo with chicken sausage enough #butternutsquash #orzo #orzotiktok #chickensausage
♬ Buttercup – Jack Stauber
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
