These three sausage recipes for kids are quick dinner ideas helping you get dinner served in under 20 minutes.
Kid-Friendly Sausage Recipes in Under 20 Minutes
When there is little time to prepare dinner you need quick ideas. These recipes are each a complete meal, ready for your family quickly. We find kids love chicken sausage so it’s a win-win!
This chicken sausage is easy to use. It’s fully cooked, has 70% less fat than regular pork sausage along with 30% less sodium. It’s packed with flavor and can be used in many ways. Chicken sausage is so versatile, it works with pasta, veggies, and tastes amazing in a vegetable skillet.
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage
Sheet pan meals are fantastic for a busy night because everything simply goes onto the sheet pan and into the oven where the whole meal cooks at once.
This chicken sausage sheet pan recipe comes together super quickly in a few simple steps:
- rinse the veggies
- slice the carrots in half for quicker cooking
- season with salt and pepper
- bake
Chicken Sausage Ravioli
Kids love ravioli, combine it with chicken sausage and it’s a one-pan dinner idea that comes together in just 15 minutes!
With peapods and mushrooms cooked with the chicken sausage, the veggies are right in the dish. The touch of lemon flavor is so fresh, but you can skip it if lemon is not your thing.
Chicken Sausage Penne Pasta
Who can resist pasta?! This dish has the penne pasta cook right in this sauce, making this recipe a one-pan dinner idea. Who doesn’t love fewer dishes to wash?
You can skip the spinach if it’s something your kids wouldn’t eat, but it adds such a pretty pop of color and a great boost of nutrition!
If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!
Chicken Sausage Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 package al fresco All Natural chicken sausage sliced horizontally
- 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups dry penne pasta
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Saute the onion. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onion until translucent.
- Brown the sausage. Add sliced chicken sausage, cooking for 1-2 minutes to brown the sausage.
- Add the tomatoes, broth, and pasta. Add diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Adjust heat to bring to a boil. Add penne pasta. Turn heat down and simmer for 7 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
- Add cream cheese, spinach, and seasoning. Stir in cream cheese. Add spinach, salt, and pepper. Stir well and serve!
Nutrition
Delicious Simple Family Recipes
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Claudia Lamascolo says
I honestly dont know what I want to eat first since they all look spectacular. I love everyone of these so I guess I will start with that yummy pasta dish!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Claudia! The penne was a favorite at my house, I hope you enjoy!
Veena Azmanov says
Now that is one awesome post with three good recipes. Love the simplicity and detail on this post. We love penne in our home and sausage is always a great welcome. Saving this for later.
Create Kids Club says
So glad to hear, Veena! I do love simple, it makes life so much easier on busy nights!
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
I love love love this!! Anything that makes the weeknight dinner grind a little easier gets a vote from me. I want to try that sausage penne this week!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks Kylee! I’d love to hear how you like it! 🙂
Wanda Lopez says
They all look fabulous and delicious. I am always looking for meals that are easy and fast to make.
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Wanda! I hope you enjoy. 🙂
Tina says
Not one but three incredible weeknight dinner meals, thank you so much! I’ve wanted to try chicken sausage for a while now and was nervous my family wouldn’t like it. But…these look delicious and I’ll be trying one tonight!
Create Kids Club says
I find chicken sausage to be so versatile, Tina. My kids (and husband!) love it and I love that I can use it in so many different ways!
Tammy says
Love the variations here! Each dish looks more delicious than the next…I especially love the ease of sheet pan dinners. Makes life so much easier ^_^
Create Kids Club says
I can’t agree with you more on the sheet pan dinners, Tammy! I love that there is little to no clean up too! Added bonus 🙂
Heather says
Gorgeous pics and this recipe is making me drool! Busy weeknights are always better with an amazing recipe like this!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Heather! I agree on the busy weeknights. Having a quick plan always helps!
Priya Srinivasan says
You got us in that Title 3 meals under 20 minutes!! All 3 looks fab! And that pasta with chicken sausage must be a clear winner with adults and kids together! Looks fabulous!
Create Kids Club says
Thanks, Priya! And you are correct – my kids loved the penne! It worked great for a week of lunches too! 🙂
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
What great meals!! Sometimes we just don’t have time for complicated recipes but we don’t want to sacrifice taste or nutrition. They all look and sound fantastic. I’m pinning so I don’t lose them.
Create Kids Club says
Thanks so much, Marisa! I totally agree. I love cooking, but with small kids it becomes challenging to make complicated dinners. I love finding products that can make life a little bit easier (and tastier too!).
Nikki says
Question: for the pasta- is it a 16 Oz bag? Or two cups of dried pasta? Tia
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Nikki! I used 2 cups of dry pasta (which should be close to 16 oz.). I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!
Jessica says
The penne recipe sounds amazing! We are dairy free though, any recommendations for a substitute for the cream cheese?
Thanks!!
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Jessica! You could try some of the dairy-free cream cheese versions. I don’t have experience with them, but they might work. If you do, maybe try it in a small portion to see how it works before adding it to the whole recipe. Otherwise, you could simply skip the cream cheese. You won’t get the creamy flavor, but the dish should still taste amazing! I’d love to hear if you give it a try.
jeanne says
I used the dairy free cream cheese and it worked out perfect. I use Tofutti Sour Cream.
Jocelyn says
I have made this twice (it’s a family favorite). My kids eat it, but the pick out the spinach…my older son says he things it would be even better with shrimp, I’m going to have to try it with shrimp next time!
Joe S says
For 6 servings, is it 1 1/2 cups or just 1/2 cup of chicken broth?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
Hi Joe – It’s 1 1/2 cups of broth. The pasta cooks in the broth and absorbs some along the way.
Preet says
Hi Jodi, what else can i use instead of chicken broth?
Jodi Danen, RDN says
You could swap for vegetable broth, evaporated milk, or even just try using water. I hope you enjoy it!