Chicken Sausage Pasta is your new go-to weeknight dinner solution. This flavorful and incredibly easy dish brings together savory chicken sausage, tender pasta, and a luscious sauce for a meal that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare.
Key Ingredients for Chicken Sausage Pasta
- 1 pound dried pasta (such as penne, rotini, or farfalle – choose your favorite!)
- 1 pound uncooked chicken sausage (sweet or spicy, your preference), casings removed and crumbled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low sodium is recommended)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (for an extra creamy sauce, optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish (optional)
How to Make Chicken Sausage Pasta
Get ready for a culinary win with this Chicken Sausage Pasta that’s as simple as it is delicious. In under 30 minutes, you’ll whip up a satisfying meal featuring perfectly cooked pasta coated in a rich, savory sauce infused with flavorful chicken sausage. The creamy finish and aromatic herbs make this dish a true crowd-pleaser, perfect for any night of the week.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the Sausage: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled chicken sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the rendered sausage fat (or add a touch more olive oil if needed). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Simmer and Thicken: Let the sauce simmer for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to reduce slightly. If you’re using heavy cream for an extra creamy texture, whisk it in now and simmer for another 2-3 minutes, just until warmed through.
- Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken sausage to the skillet with the sauce. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and sausage are well coated in the sauce.
- Add Cheese and Serve: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and incorporated into the sauce. If the sauce seems a little too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Serve the Chicken Sausage Pasta immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil, if desired.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Sausage Pasta
You’ll adore this Chicken Sausage Pasta because it’s a truly complete meal in one bowl, brimming with vibrant flavors and delightful textures. The star is undoubtedly the savory chicken sausage, which brings an incredible depth of flavor that elevates this dish far beyond a simple pasta and sauce. Plus, by making this at home, you’re bypassing expensive restaurant markups and enjoying a gourmet-quality meal for a fraction of the cost, proving that delicious doesn’t have to break the bank. The perfectly balanced sauce, infused with aromatic herbs and finished with a kiss of Parmesan, creates a comforting yet sophisticated experience that your taste buds will thank you for. You might even find it rivals your favorite creamy vodka or marinara pasta dishes, but with a healthier protein punch! Don’t just dream about a quick, satisfying dinner; make it a reality and dive into this incredible Chicken Sausage Pasta tonight!
Storing and Reheating Tips
To store leftover Chicken Sausage Pasta, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When you’re ready to reheat, you can gently warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Adding a tablespoon or two of water or chicken broth can help loosen the sauce if it has thickened considerably during refrigeration. Alternatively, you can microwave individual portions until heated through, again, adding a touch of liquid if needed. For longer storage, you can freeze portions of the Chicken Sausage Pasta in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as directed above.
Final Thoughts
This Chicken Sausage Pasta is a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly spectacular. It’s a comforting, flavorful, and incredibly easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings, so gather your ingredients and give it a try!
Chicken Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain the pasta and set it aside.1 pound dried pasta
- Wait the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled chicken sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.1 pound uncooked chicken sausage, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the rendered sausage fat (or add a touch more olive oil if needed). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 medium yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Let the sauce simmer for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to reduce slightly. If you’re using heavy cream for an extra creamy texture, whisk it in now and simmer for another 2-3 minutes, just until warmed through.1/2 cup heavy cream
- Return the cooked chicken sausage to the skillet with the sauce. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and sausage are well coated in the sauce.1 pound dried pasta, 1 pound uncooked chicken sausage
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and incorporated into the sauce. If the sauce seems a little too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Serve the Chicken Sausage Pasta immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil, if desired.1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves