Chicken Sausage Pasta
I shared in last week’s post on how to help new parents that getting enough to eat in those first few weeks after having our little boy was a lot of work. While things aren’t nearly so difficult these days, it’s still far from easy eating enough food each day, so I’ve been leaning on easy and quick recipes like this chicken sausage pasta!
My husband and I recently started baking egg cups with protein and veggies on the weekend to grab during the week. They’re ideal for him to take to work and for me to reheat in the toaster oven at home. Around lunchtime, however, the options aren’t usually so easy. And then somewhere along the line, dinner has to be planned.
In the last few weeks, in fact, I’ve noticed that I haven’t always been getting enough food to eat during the day and I need to plan ahead a bit more! Since big dinners lead to leftovers for lunch, I’m all about recipes like this one pot sausage pasta!
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Chicken Sausage Pasta
You might remember this one pot pea pasta recipe from a few years ago. This was a favorite during and after my grad school years, and I’m not ashamed to tell you that my husband and I might be alive because of that simple recipe.
Now that we need heartier meals, however, – with protein I might add – adding chicken sausage has been a great addition that requires practically no work!
I shared this delicious chicken sausage salad with fall salad dressing recently. And today’s one pot sausage pasta features their mild Italian flavor! And, oh my, is it tasty!!!
Ideal Dinner/Lunch Recipe
The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the water to boil. The peas cook very quickly and the sausage is already cooked – you’re just heating it up with the pasta at the end!
Besides how easy and filling this recipe is, I love that I can eat it easily for lunch (reheated or not)! It’s also the perfect balance of protein, carbs, and some great veggies!!
Looking for other recipes with chicken sausage? Try this delicious smoked sausage skillet with veggies, and this meal-prep sausage and polenta. And don’t skip this easy sweet potato breakfast bowl that’s SUCH a good, easy dinner idea!
Want some other good one pot recipes? This lemon tuna pasta is easy, inexpensive and delicious! Simpler versions (great as a side dish too) are pasta and peas and this one pot pasta with green beans is a mandatory one in our house.
If you need something heartier, check out this one pot Mexican rice casserole, one pot lentil soup, and shrimp + pancetta wild rice medley!
Try this cabbage pasta recipe for another great weeknight dinner!
CHICKEN SAUSAGE PASTA
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon fine sea salt plus ½ teaspoon
- 1 pound dry penne pasta
- 13 ounce bag frozen peas
- 1 pack
mild Italian chicken sausage - ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Bring 10 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat in a large soup or pasta pot. Once it boils, sprinkle in one tablespoon of salt.
- Add the pasta and cook for 8 minutes. Add the peas. Allow the water to return to a boil and cook 1 to 2 more minutes, until the pasta is al dente and the peas are heated.
- Turn off the heat. Drain the water from the pot, but reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Turn the heat to low. Stir in the sausage, basil, and olive oil. Once the oil is mixed in well, add the ½ cup of warm pasta water and stir. Add the 2 tablespoons of parmesan and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt. Cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, until the sausage is warmed.
- Garnish with more parmesan and serve.
