Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage and Butternut Squash

Name: Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage and Butternut Squash
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound spicy Italian sausage; 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed small; 1 cup orzo pasta; 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped; 2 cups fresh baby spinach; 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled; Salt and black pepper to taste

This cozy one pan meal combines sweet butternut squash, savory sausage, and nutty brown butter for the perfect autumn dinner.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· September 28, 2026

Brown Butter Sage Orzo with Spicy Sausage and Butternut Squash

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

40 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of pasta when the weather starts to cool down. This orzo dish is one of my absolute favorites because it brings together earthy sage, sweet squash, and a little bit of heat from the sausage into one easy meal.

My best tip for this recipe is to watch your butter closely while it browns. It only takes a minute to go from perfectly nutty to burnt, so keep your eyes on it and use a light colored pan if you can so you can see the color change.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound spicy Italian sausage
2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed small
1 cup orzo pasta
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Salt and black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through, then remove it from the pan and set aside.
2
Add the butternut squash to the same skillet and cook for about five minutes until it starts to soften.
3
Stir in the dry orzo, then pour in the broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook for about ten minutes or until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the orzo is tender.
4
While the orzo cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it bubble until it smells nutty and turns a golden brown color, then stir in the fresh sage.
5
Stir the cooked sausage, spinach, and the brown butter sage mixture into the skillet. Cook for another minute until the spinach wilts.
6
Remove from the heat and sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese over the top before serving.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If the pasta absorbs too much liquid while stored, stir in a tiny splash of broth or water when reheating on the stove.

#one pan dinner #fall recipes #pasta #easy dinner #comfort food

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