By now I’m sure you all know that I’m a big fan of chicken sausage recipes. And this Chicken Sausage Pasta dish is my new obsession! It’s made with smoked andouille chicken sausage, sautéed peppers and onions, and a creamy cajun sauce. And thanks to the fully-cooked smoked sausage, this easy dinner recipe comes together in just 30-minutes!
And if you also love quick sausage recipes, then try my popular Chicken Sausage Stir-Fry next!😉
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chicken Sausage: You’ll need 4 fully cooked smoked chicken sausage links. You can easily substitute with pork sausage instead if you prefer.
- Peppers, Onions, and Garlic: I love the addition of sautéed peppers, onion and garlic. This combo adds lots of flavor and aromatics to the recipe.
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: I knew I wanted to add some tomatoes to this dish, but smoky fire roasted tomatoes took it to the next level!
- Seasoning: A combination of creole or cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and a little salt adds a big flavor punch to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth, Heavy Cream and Parmesan Cheese: The creamy and luscious sauce is made with a combination of chicken broth, heavy cream and parmesan cheese. It coats the pasta wonderfully and adds the perfect finish to the dish.
Which Chicken Sausage Should You Buy?
I’ve tried several different kinds of chicken sausage over the years and now there are lots of styles and flavors to choose from. For this recipe I like to use an andouille or chorizo flavored chicken sausage. It adds a smoky flavor and a little heat to the dish.
The classic chicken & apple flavored chicken sausage usually tastes better in recipes with more green vegetables like this Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts or this Chicken Sausage and Cabbage recipe. And of course you can certainly make this pasta with regular pork sausage links if you prefer! Just make sure you're purchasing fully-cooked smoked sausages for this recipe.
How To Make Chicken Sausage Pasta
The full measurements are included in the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview:
More Quick 30-Minute Meals
- Creamy Chicken Asparagus Pasta
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Orzo
- Asian Ground Turkey Stir-Fry
Chicken Sausage Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 fully cooked smoked chicken sausage links*
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 small yellow onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 8 oz. dry pasta**
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 15 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons Creole or Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Slice the chicken sausage links into ½-inch rounds and set them to the side. Dice the bell pepper and the onion. Mince the garlic cloves.
- In a large pot with salted boiling water, add the pasta and cook according to the box instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it to the side.
- In a large, deep 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken sausage and sauté for roughly 4-5 minutes until lightly browned on both sides. Remove the sausage to a separate plate and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add the butter, diced bell pepper and diced onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes just until the onion becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds.
- Now add the fire roasted tomatoes, creole seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Stir to combine with the onion and peppers. Then add the chicken broth to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Simmer the sauce for 4-5 minutes until it begins to thicken.
- Finally add back in the browned chicken sausage and the cooked pasta. Carefully stir everything together to combine. Allow the pasta to simmer on medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes so the sausage can heat back up with the sauce.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and serve hot with freshly grated parmesan cheese on top and a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes (optional). Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to purchase fully-cooked smoked chicken sausage links. These are usually in the same area as the bacon and sausage section of the grocery store.
- I used rigatoni pasta for this recipe, but you can use any medium size pasta like penne, fusilli, or farfalle (bowtie).
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