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Creamy chicken sausage pasta is a quick and simple dinner dish that is on the table in no time. It’s a family favorite!
Chicken sausage pasta is a go-to pasta dinner in our home. It’s simple and quick, like our favorite creamy Chicken Alfredo.
So Creamy!
We love a good pasta dish, and while we tend to lean toward a marinara sauce, we do enjoy a velvety cream sauce!
Chicken sausage pasta does not disappoint! It’s creamy, hearty, and always a hit.
The best part is it comes together with little cleanup, requires few ingredients, and doesn’t take much time. The kids love this pasta, making it a go-to weeknight dinner choice!
Made in Minutes!
This chicken sausage pasta recipe uses one skillet (besides the pot used to cook the pasta), and is ready in minutes!
PASTA. Cook pasta according to package directions.
SAUSAGE. Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add olive oil. Once warm, add sliced chicken sausage and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside on a plate.
Add the tomatoes, salt, basil, and pepper flakes to the large skillet and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
SAUCE. Stir in the cream and ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
COOK. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
COMBINE + SERVE! Drain the pasta and toss it into the cream mixture. Mix in sliced chicken sausage or top pasta with sausage and serve warm.
Garnish with the remaining ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
Recipe Tips
Creamy chicken sausage pasta is simple, but these tips will make it come out perfectly every time!
Chicken sausage. Use preferably Italian style. Other flavors like cajun spice can work but stay away from apple sausage for this recipe.
Pasta. I used bow-tie pasta, but any similar-sized pasta can work. Penne pasta would be a great choice as would ziti. You can also use gluten-free pasta.
Basil. You can use ½ tablespoon of fresh basil instead of using dry.
Variations
While tasty the as is, make this dish your own with these simple changes.
- Sausage. Swap out the chicken sausage for turkey sausage or spicy pork sausage.
- Cheese. Substitute the grated parmesan cheese with mozzarella cheese or an Italian cheese blend.
- Veggies. Add vegetables such as zucchini, red bell pepper, mushrooms, or spinach in Step 2.
- Starch. Instead of mixing it with pasta, scoop the creamy sausage mixture over white rice, cauliflower rice, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes.
- Season to taste with salt, pepper, oregano, or fresh parsley. Add a bit of heat with red chili flakes or hot sauce.
Storage Tips
STORE. Allow leftover pasta with chicken sausage to cool and place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove. The pasta may have absorbed some of the liquid so feel free to add more milk before heating.
FREEZE. To make ahead of time or freeze leftovers, cool Italian chicken sausage pasta before pouring it into an airtight freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 4 months.
To reheat. Thaw and heat on the stove over low heat stirring constantly. Add a small amount of milk to revitalize the sauce.
Recipe FAQ
Chicken sausage is made from ground chicken and then seasoned with herbs and spices. It is high in protein and low in fat. It can often be used in place of pork sausage.
Chicken sausage comes in both precooked and cooked forms. It can be cooked whole or sliced to an internal temp of 165°F. The outside is even golden brown and the inside is light pink.
For More Pasta Recipes:
- Sausage Alfredo
- Sausage Penne Pasta
- Creamy Sausage Pasta Bake
- Garlic Penne Pasta
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Sausage Penne Pasta
Chicken Sausage Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz bow tie pasta 1 ½ cups
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 12 oz Italian style chicken sausage sliced into rounds
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2-2 14.5 oz cans Italian stewed tomatoes drained and chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese divided
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add olive oil. Once warm, add sliced chicken sausage and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside on a plate.
- Add the tomatoes, salt, basil, and pepper flakes to the large skillet and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Drain the pasta and toss them into the cream mixture. Mix in sliced chicken sausage or top pasta with sausage and serve warm.
- Garnish with the remaining ½ cup of parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It was good! Easy to alter to your liking. We added mushrooms and zucchini and switched up the cheese, because we didn’t have Parmesan. Overall, I’d make it again!
I make this all the time and it is delicious except I dont use chicken sausage just sweet Italian sausage. I actually clicked on it because I thought it was Chicken AND sausage and pasta and sounded tasty. This is one of my favorites though. If you read this you should try it. I increase the heavy cream and broth a bit too, I like it as creamy as I can get it to be as it holds everything together then.
Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad you love the recipe. I’m sure it would be delicious with Italian sausage too.