Creamy Cajun Sausage & Shrimp Orzo
Creamy Cajun Sausage & Shrimp Orzo
Ingredients
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, as needed for seasoning shrimp
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, as needed for seasoning shrimp
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, as needed for seasoning shrimp
For the Orzo
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups orzo
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Season the 1 pound of shrimp with garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and lemon pepper seasoning. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes total, flipping once, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min
- 3
Add the 1 pound of sliced andouille sausage to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the diced onion to the skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring, until the onion begins to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Stir in the 2 cups of orzo and toast for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 4 min
- 6
Pour in the 8 ounces of tomato sauce, 3 cups of chicken broth, and 1 cup of heavy cream. Stir well to combine and break up any clumps of orzo.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Season the mixture with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Stir thoroughly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 12 min
- 9
Add the 2 handfuls of fresh spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Return the cooked shrimp and sausage to the skillet. Mix everything together gently to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Stir in the 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and the orzo is creamy. Serve hot and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Cajun Sausage & Shrimp Orzo
For the Shrimp
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, as needed for seasoning shrimp
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, as needed for seasoning shrimp
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning, as needed for seasoning shrimp
For the Orzo
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups orzo
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 handfuls fresh spinach
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- 1
Season the 1 pound of shrimp with garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and lemon pepper seasoning. Toss to coat evenly.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes total, flipping once, until just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 4 min - 3
Add the 1 pound of sliced andouille sausage to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the diced onion to the skillet. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring, until the onion begins to soften and become translucent.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Stir in the 2 cups of orzo and toast for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 4 min - 6
Pour in the 8 ounces of tomato sauce, 3 cups of chicken broth, and 1 cup of heavy cream. Stir well to combine and break up any clumps of orzo.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Season the mixture with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Stir thoroughly.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the orzo is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
⏱️ 12 min - 9
Add the 2 handfuls of fresh spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Return the cooked shrimp and sausage to the skillet. Mix everything together gently to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Stir in the 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and the orzo is creamy. Serve hot and enjoy!
⏱️ 2 min