I feel like you can never go wrong with pasta. It’s easy to make, comes together quickly, and the varieties and combinations are endless. This chicken sausage pasta recipe takes simple ingredients and transforms them into a cozy pasta dish.
The truth is, this dish was totally inspired by my husband. One day for lunch he cooked up some chicken sausages, a decent amount of pasta, and used some leftover pasta sauce we had in the fridge.
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As he was eating, I came out to make my lunch and there was some leftover pasta and more chicken sausages and sauce to be used, so I followed suit and made something similar. It was so good and so simple, I knew I had to share!
Of course, I tweaked the original dish a little and added some more veggies and added a touch of goat cheese, which gives it a depth of flavor and makes the sauce so creamy. The end result is easy comfort food that totally hits the spot when not sure what to make for dinner or lunch but want to keep it healthy and delicious!
Why we love this chicken sausage pasta
- ready from start to finish in 25 minutes
- easily customizable – use your favorite chicken sausage flavor, pasta, and whatever veggies you like
- made with simple ingredients you probably already have at home
- macro-balanced – we have protein from the chicken and pasta, carbohydrates from the pasta, healthy fat from the oil and goat cheese, and fiber from the veggies and pasta.
- something everyone will love!
Are chicken sausages healthy?
When made with the right ingredients, chicken sausages can be a healthy addition to any diet. Look for ones with no added nitrites or nitrates, fillers, binders, or artificial ingredients. I also like to look for ones that aren’t loaded with sodium.
I am using the brand Bilinski as they have great ingredients, a good amount of protein, and not a ton of fat.
Chicken sausage pasta ingredients
- pasta – I am using rigatoni, but any kind works.
- olive oil
- chicken sausage – use your favorite kind! These Bilinski sausages have recently become ours – I am using mild Italian with bell pepper flavor.
- mushrooms
- spinach
- marinara sauce
- goat cheese – adds a nice creaminess to the sauce!
- salt and pepper
How to make chicken sausage pasta
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to the instructions. Once al dente, drain and set aside to cool. When draining, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.
- Cook the chicken sausage. When the water is about to boil, you’ll start cooking your chicken and veggies. Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat and let it get hot. Then add sliced chicken sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side (make sure not to move in the pan when cooking). Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Cook the veggies. In the same pan, add mushrooms and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped spinach and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Turn down the heat to low.
- Assemble. Add your marinara sauce and cooked pasta to the pan and stir to combine. Then add in your goat cheese, and little pasta water (about 2 tablespoons worth), and salt and pepper, and mix well to combine. Let warm through, about 1 minute.
- Enjoy! Top with toppings of choice and enjoy!
Storage and reheating
- refrigerator – allow the pasta to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
- reheating – to heat it up, pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
Substitutions and additions
- pasta – any kind of pasta will work (penne, spaghetti, angel hair, elbow…). I like rigatoni as it has a good surface area to soak up the pasta sauce. If needed, opt for gluten-free pasta to make this meal gluten-free.
- olive oil – any kind of neutral oil will work.
- chicken sausage – use your favorite kind for this recipe. I would avoid chicken apple sausage though.
- veggies – use any veggies you like! The more the merrier. Onion, broccoli, zucchini, and bell peppers would be good substitutes or additions.
- marinara sauce – I love a classic red sauce, but you could use any kind of sauce your like (store-bought or homemade). If you aren’t feeling a tomato sauce, you could easily swap it for your favorite pesto sauce.
- goat cheese – feta will work instead of goat cheese. To keep it dairy-free, leave off the cheese.
- spices – to spice it up a little more, add some spices. Garlic powder, onion, powder, and Italian seasoning would all be good choices. 1-2 teaspoons would be enough to flavor the dish.
More healthy pasta recipes
- goat cheese pasta with chicken and veggies
- creamy sun-dried tomato chicken pasta
- chicken parmesan pasta
- vegan pasta with veggies
- chicken ranch pasta with broccoli
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Chicken Sausage Pasta
ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta (I used rigatoni)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 package chicken sausages (12 ounces – I used Bilinski mild Italian with bell pepper)
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms (140 gram)
- 4 cups spinach, roughly chopped (120 grams)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (or more if you want it saucier)
- 1/2 cup goat cheese (2 ounces)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- optional toppings – grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes…
instructions
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to the instructions. Once al dente, drain and set aside to cool. When draining, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water.
- Cook the chicken sausage. When the water is about to boil, you’ll start cooking your chicken and veggies. Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat and let it get hot. Then add sliced chicken sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned on one side (make sure not to move in the pan when cooking). Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Cook the veggies. In the same pan, add mushrooms and saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chopped spinach and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Turn down the heat to low.
- Assemble. Add your marinara sauce and cooked pasta to the pan and stir to combine. Then add in your goat cheese, and little pasta water (about 2 tablespoons worth), and salt and pepper, and mix well to combine. Let warm through, about 1 minute. If needed, add more pasta water if you want a thinner sauce.
- Enjoy! Top with toppings of choice and enjoy!
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Wow this blew me away! So easy and so delicious. My husband said it was one of his favorite meals I’ve ever made. I used Roas spicy marinara and a high quality chicken sausage which I think really elevates it.
So glad it was a huge hit! Thanks for trying it, Kayla!
Just made this for lunch. The overall pasta is very good but I recommend using a high quality chicken sausage for the best results.
My husband said it has a weird chewy texture, possibly because it was purchased from Aldi. Will definitely try again next time!
Good to know! I haven’t shopped at Aldi but yes, a good quality chicken sausage will make a difference. Thanks for trying it, Faith!
I made this tonight because I had all of the ingredients and am trying to use up what I have on hand. It was great! I used feta cheese, so it wasn’t as creamy as it might have been, but it was very flavorful. The chicken sausage I had was organic chicken sausage from Aldi, and it was very good in this recipe. I halved the recipe and will still have two meals of leftovers.
Sounds delicious and glad it worked with what you had on hand. Thanks for trying it, Christy!
Just had this for dinner, and it was absolutely delicious!! I used a garlic herb goat cheese from Aldi, and Goodles penne pasta for added protein and fiber. It was delicious and creamy! Will definitely be a regular recipe for me. Thank you!!
Oh that cheese sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for trying it, Cheryl!
Is it possible to use mozzerella in this recipe?
Yes, it should work. It might take a little longer to melt so I would make sure you grate it. You can also thinly slice it and layer it on top of the pasta and let it melt. Hope that helps!
Fantastic
Glad you enjoyed it, Dan!
This was good, thank you!
You are welcome, Holly! Thanks for trying it!
Yum, this was delicious and quick to make. I’m always trying to figure out what to make with chicken sausages besides just cooking them and serving with veggies. You really could add any veggies to this and it would turn out amazing. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it, Tiffany! I feel the same way and it’s always such an easy meal. Thanks for trying it!