Description
Make this easy chicken sausage pasta skillet for a quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner. It features savory chicken sausage in a rich, creamy Tuscan-style sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the sausage and set it aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the dry pasta and chicken broth to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in the heavy cream and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Return the cooked chicken sausage to the skillet. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts completely, about 1 minute.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Serve this quick chicken sausage dinner immediately.
Notes
- For a healthier option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, or use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- This recipe works well for meal prep; store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
- If you prefer a smoky flavor, use smoked chicken sausage instead of Italian style.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 90