Chicken Sausage Pasta

Name: Chicken Sausage Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 package chicken sausage, sliced (✅ ); 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (✅ ); 1 1/2 cup chicken broth (✅ ); 2 cups dry gluten-free penne pasta; 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed (✅ ); 1 cup spinach; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

By: Jodi / Published on May 7, 2018 Updated on July 31, 2023 / 31 Comments

Chicken sausage pasta is a quick and easy dinner that features precooked chicken sausage, tomatoes, and spinach. It's made in under 20 minutes!

Total Time 20

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wooden spoon stirring noodles and sausage

Chicken sausage pasta is a quick and easy dinner that features precooked chicken sausage, tomatoes, and spinach. It’s made in under 20 minutes!

When there is little time to prepare dinner, you need quick ideas. This recipe is a complete meal that is ready for your family just in time for dinner. Plus, kids love chicken sausage so it’s a win-win!

The pasta cooks right in the same pan as the rest of the dish, cutting back on dishes and time! For more one-pan meals, check out Chuck Roast in the Oven, Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup and Gluten Free Chicken Enchiladas.

Chicken Sausage Dinner

Who can resist pasta?! This dish has the penne pasta cook right in the sauce, making this recipe a one-pan dinner idea. It also means fewer dishes to wash after the meal!

This chicken sausage is easy to use. It’s fully cooked, and 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.

Our chicken and sausage pasta is sure to become a family favorite that is requested frequently!

Serving Suggestions

This sausage meal can be served any night of the week or on the weekend. As a complete meal, you can serve as is or create a larger spread by pairing with a side.

Consider a leafy green side salad drizzled with dressing or a slice of Artisan Bread dipped in olive oil and parmesan cheese.

You can also serve with roasted veggies such as Roasted Broccoli and Carrots, Roasted Frozen Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Frozen Cauliflower or Roasted Frozen Vegetables.
Add in an extra protein like Poached Shrimp, Boiled Shrimp or Air Fry Shrimp.
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.
Swap the spinach with another vegetable such as zucchini, squash or broccoli.

You can also top this pasta with fresh mozzarella, burrata or grated parmesan cheese to add the perfect final touch. You will be amazed at how this one ingredient can make a world of difference!

Substitutions

It is important to note for this recipe and other recipes you find on our site that you can always consider using ingredients that you have on hand.

Check out these recipe variations for this sausage dinner:

Chicken sausage: use ground chicken, beef or turkey or pork, beef, or turkey sausage links.
Diced tomatoes: swap the canned tomatoes with 1 cup of fresh roasted cherry tomatoes.
Chicken broth: vegetable or beef broth, evaporated milk or unsweetened coconut milk can be substituted.
Gluten-free penne pasta: swap with gluten-free spaghetti, rotini, elbow, bowtie or any other pasta shape.
Cream cheese: use 1/4 cup heavy cream, half and half or 4 oz of dairy free cream cheese in place of the cream cheese.
Spinach: in addition, or in place of the spinach, use zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, kale, squash, broccoli or frozen peas.

Ingredients

1 medium onion, diced
1 tsp. olive oil
1 package chicken sausage, sliced ✅
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes ✅
1 1/2 cup chicken broth ✅
2 cups dry gluten-free penne pasta
4 oz. cream cheese ✅
1 cup spinach
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

sliced sausage and sauteed onions in pot

chicken broth poured into Dutch oven pot

How To Make

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent.

Brown the sausage

Add sliced chicken sausage, cooking for 1-2 minutes to brown the sausage.

uncooked penne pasta added to pot with sauce and sausage

penne pasta and sliced sausage in cream sauce

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!

Sausage pasta cooking in a pot with cream cheese cubes added.

Storing Chicken Sausage Pasta

In the fridge: Add to a covered container and store for up to 3 days in the fridge.

In the freezer: We don’t recommend freezing this recipe because of the cream cheese. When reheated, it may result in an unappetizing texture.

If freezing is desired, make the recipe as written without adding in the cream cheese then store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat the next day. During reheating, is when you can add in the cream cheese.

Reheating Instructions

Add to a microwave safe bowl or back into a stovetop pan to reheat until hot. Add in a splash of broth to rehydrate the pasta and keep the dish from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use canned vegetables?

You will want to stick with fresh or frozen vegetables for this recipe as canned veggies often become too mushy when heated. You can however, served canned vegetables such as peas, carrots or green beans on the side.

How to make dairy-free?

Easily turn this recipe dairy free by omitting the cream cheese or swapping for a dairy-free alternative.

How to add more flavors to the dish?

Top with cheese (mozzarella, burrata or parmesan), add fresh basil, or sprinkle with red pepper flakes to this already flavorful meal.

Can you double this recipe?

Absolutely! Simply double the ingredients and cook in a larger pot that is able to hold all the pasta. This is a great option if looking to feed a crowd.

wooden spoon stirring creamy chicken sausage pasta

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

Translucent means the onions will turn almost clear (versus white). Onions will also start to smell sweet as they are sauteed.
“Brown the sausage” means to cook the meat until there is no pink. Chopping into small chunks, letting simmer, stirring then repeating until fully cooked is the best method for browning sausage.
“Simmer” is a cooking method that requires low heat to thoroughly cook the ingredient. In this recipe, you simmer the pasta so it can absorb the liquid resulting in perfectly cooked pasta.
Cutting the block of cream cheese into smaller chunks can help it melt quicker and make it easier to stir in the pan.

Chicken Sausage Recipes

More Gluten-Free Pasta Recipes

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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