Quick & Easy Italian Chicken Sausage Pesto Pasta: Your Go-To Weeknight Meal
Craving a satisfying, flavorful meal that comes together in a flash? Look no further than this incredible Italian Chicken Sausage Pesto Pasta! This recipe masterfully combines the rich, aromatic flavors of pesto with savory Italian chicken sausage and your favorite pasta, creating a dish that’s both comforting and incredibly quick to prepare. It’s the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you need a delicious dinner on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.
Whenever I find myself in a cooking rut, or simply short on time, pasta is always my trusty companion. And when I can elevate that pasta with the vibrant, herbaceous goodness of pesto – whether from a jar or freshly made – it’s an instant win. This sausage pesto pasta is a true testament to simplicity, requiring just a handful of ingredients and approximately 25 minutes from start to finish. Plus, with the clever addition of fresh greens directly into the pot, you can transform this into a complete, wholesome meal in one go. It’s truly that easy!
This recipe isn’t just fast; it’s also incredibly versatile. While we champion Italian chicken sausage for its convenience and robust flavor, the core components of pasta and pesto can be adapted to suit any taste or dietary preference. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a beginner cook, you’ll appreciate how effortlessly this dish comes together, delivering a gourmet experience right in your own home. Say goodbye to dull dinners and hello to a new family favorite!
Key Ingredients for Your Delicious Sausage Pesto Pasta
The beauty of this chicken sausage pasta recipe lies in its minimalist approach, requiring just four core ingredients to create a truly satisfying meal. This makes it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when time is of the essence. While the convenience of quick-cooking chicken sausage and store-bought jarred pesto is a lifesaver, feel free to elevate the experience with a batch of homemade pesto if you have the time for advanced prep. For a fantastic dairy-free option, you can try this roasted garlic pistachio pesto recipe, or any other pesto recipe you love!
- Pasta: The foundation of our dish! While fusilli pasta was chosen for its excellent sauce-catching ability, the choice is entirely yours. Feel free to use any pasta shape you have on hand or prefer. If you’re looking for gluten-free options, rice flour-based noodles work wonderfully, but regular wheat pasta is just as delicious. The key is to select a shape that will effectively hold onto that rich pesto sauce.
- Italian Chicken Sausage: A fantastic protein choice for its convenience and flavor. Brands like Aidells are often pre-cooked, meaning you only need to heat them through and get a nice sear for added texture and taste. Most chicken sausages come pre-cooked, streamlining your cooking process. Alternatively, Italian turkey sausage can be used, but ensure it is thoroughly cooked before combining with the pasta and pesto.
- Pesto: The heart of this dish’s flavor profile. You’ll need approximately 8 ounces of pesto. Whether you opt for a high-quality store-bought jarred pesto for ultimate convenience or prefer to whip up a batch of homemade pesto, the fresh, herbaceous notes are essential. If choosing store-bought, look for brands with high-quality ingredients for the best taste.
- Greens: For a delightful peppery bite, added fiber, and a burst of color, fresh arugula or spinach are excellent additions. These greens wilt beautifully when mixed with the hot pasta, integrating seamlessly into the dish without needing separate cooking. They turn a simple pasta dish into a complete, nutrient-rich meal.
Optional Ingredients to Enhance Your Pesto Pasta
While the four main ingredients listed above are all you need for a quick and satisfying pesto pasta, a few optional additions can truly elevate the flavor profile. These extras allow you to customize the dish to your preference, taking it from simple to gourmet with minimal effort:
- Parmesan Cheese: A sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami depth that complements the pesto beautifully. For an authentic Italian touch, opt for high-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the entire dish, cutting through the richness of the pesto and sausage with a zesty, refreshing tang. It truly wakes up all the flavors.
- Spices: For those who enjoy a little extra kick, a dash of freshly ground black pepper adds warmth, while red pepper flakes can introduce a subtle or pronounced heat, depending on your preference.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes can add a burst of sweetness and a juicy texture. They also introduce a lovely color contrast.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: For a more intense, savory, and slightly sweet flavor, chopped sun-dried tomatoes (either oil-packed or rehydrated) are a fantastic addition.
- Kalamata Olives: Sliced Kalamata olives offer a briny, salty counterpoint that pairs wonderfully with pesto and sausage.
Choosing the Best Pasta for Pesto Sauce
While virtually any pasta can be tossed with pesto, selecting the right shape can significantly enhance your eating experience. The goal is to choose a pasta that effectively “grabs” and holds onto the rich, thick pesto sauce, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor. Pasta shapes with ridges, twists, or cups are particularly adept at clinging to the sauce.
For this recipe, I often prefer a short pasta, as it tends to integrate better with the sausage and greens, making for a more cohesive bite. Here are some of the best pasta choices you can pull from your pantry, along with why they work so well with pesto:
Short Pasta Varieties:
- Fusilli: The corkscrew or spiral shape of fusilli is exceptional at trapping creamy or chunky sauces like pesto within its crevices, providing a delightful texture and ensuring maximum flavor in every forkful.
- Penne/Ziti: Penne, with its ridged tubes, is a classic choice for pesto as the ridges act like tiny gutters, collecting the sauce. Ziti, though smooth, also works well due to its hollow cylindrical shape that allows pesto to fill the inside.
- Rigatoni: Similar to penne but larger, rigatoni’s broad, ridged tube shape is another excellent option for pesto, offering a substantial mouthfeel and plenty of surface area for the sauce to cling to.
- Gemelli: Meaning “twins” in Italian, gemelli consists of two short pasta strands twisted together, creating a beautiful helix shape that is perfect for catching and holding pesto.
- Cavatappi: This unique, corkscrew-shaped pasta with a hollow interior is a fantastic pesto vehicle. Its robust shape stands up well to a hearty sauce and offers a fun, chewy texture.
- Farfalle (Bow-tie): The distinctive folded shape of farfalle pasta (often called bow-tie pasta) acts as little scoops, capturing pockets of pesto in its folds, ensuring flavorful bites.
Long Pasta Varieties:
- Linguine: This flat, ribbon-like pasta offers a good surface area, allowing the pesto sauce to cling quite effectively. Its elegant shape makes for a lovely presentation.
- Fettuccine: Wider than spaghetti, fettuccine provides an even greater surface area for the pesto to adhere to, making it a very popular choice for rich sauces.
- Spaghetti: A true classic, spaghetti can certainly be used, but the sauce might slide off more easily if the pasta is too smooth or overcooked. It would be my last choice among these, but always use what you have available – a delicious meal can still be made!
Remember, no matter the shape, cooking your pasta to al dente is crucial. This ensures a pleasant bite and prevents the pasta from becoming mushy when tossed with the pesto and other ingredients. You can also use any brand of pasta you prefer, including gluten-free, whole wheat, or even chickpea or lentil pasta for added protein and different nutritional profiles.
Alternative Protein Options for Pesto Pasta
While this sausage pesto pasta recipe truly shines with Italian chicken sausage due to its incredible flavor and ease of preparation, there are many other excellent protein options you can incorporate if chicken sausage isn’t available or if you simply wish to vary the dish. These alternatives can be just as delicious and keep this recipe a quick weeknight favorite.
Important Note: Ensure any of these protein options are fully cooked in a separate skillet *before* mixing them with the pasta, greens, and pesto to maintain proper cooking temperatures and textures:
- Shrimp: Quickly sautéed shrimp (fresh or frozen, thawed) are a fantastic, light, and flavorful addition. Cook them until they turn pink and opaque, typically just 2-3 minutes per side. Their delicate taste pairs wonderfully with pesto.
- Diced Chicken Breast or Thighs: Cut boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs into bite-sized pieces and sauté them until fully cooked and lightly browned. This provides a lean and versatile protein that absorbs the pesto’s flavors beautifully.
- Italian Turkey Sausage Links, Sliced: Similar to chicken sausage, turkey sausage offers a leaner alternative with a comparable Italian spice profile. Ensure it is cooked through before slicing and adding to the pasta.
- Ground Italian Sausage Crumbles: If you prefer ground meat, Italian sausage (pork or turkey) can be cooked until browned and crumbled. Remember to drain any excess fat before incorporating it into the pasta dish to avoid an oily result.
- Pre-cooked Frozen Meatballs: For ultimate convenience, pre-cooked frozen meatballs (like Simek’s brand) can be heated according to package directions and then sliced or added whole to the pasta. This is a great shortcut when you’re truly pressed for time.
- Chickpeas or White Beans: For a delicious vegetarian option, rinsed and drained canned chickpeas or cannellini beans can be gently warmed and added. They provide a creamy texture and plant-based protein that works surprisingly well with pesto.
- Roasted Vegetables: While not a protein, roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or broccoli florets can be roasted separately and added for a hearty, meatless version that’s packed with nutrients and flavor.
Storing and Reheating Your Pesto Pasta Leftovers
One of the many advantages of this chicken sausage pesto pasta is how well it holds up as leftovers, making it perfect for meal prep or a quick lunch the next day. Proper storage and reheating techniques will ensure your dish remains delicious and enjoyable.
- TO STORE: Once cooled to room temperature, transfer any leftover pesto pasta into an airtight storage container. Refrigerate promptly for up to 4 days. Storing it in an airtight container helps maintain its freshness and prevents the pasta from drying out.
- TO REHEAT: The best way to rewarm chicken sausage pesto pasta is in a skillet on the stovetop. Place the desired portion in a skillet over medium-low heat. To prevent the pasta from sticking and to restore some of its moisture, add a splash of water, chicken broth, or a drizzle of olive oil. Stir gently until heated through, typically 3-5 minutes. Avoid overheating, as this can make the pasta dry or mushy.
- TO FREEZE: For longer storage, this pasta can be frozen. Transfer the cooled pasta into an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop as described above. Note that pasta’s texture may soften slightly after freezing and thawing, but the flavor will remain excellent.
More Easy and Delicious Pasta Recipes
If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and flavor of this pesto pasta, you’ll love exploring other quick and satisfying pasta dishes. Here are a few more easy recipes to add to your rotation:
- Sausage Pasta in a Tomato Cream Sauce: A rich and creamy dish that’s surprisingly simple to make, perfect for a comforting meal.
- Tuna Carbonara Using Canned Fish: A clever twist on a classic, utilizing pantry staples for a gourmet-tasting meal in minutes.
- Homemade Spaghetti-O Rings with Meatballs: A nostalgic and fun recipe that’s a hit with kids and adults alike, offering a wholesome homemade version of a classic.
Pesto Pasta with Italian Chicken Sausage
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Ingredients
- 12- ounces pasta – (such as fusilli, rigatoni, penne with ridges, or farfalle for best sauce adhesion)
- 8 oz pesto, jarred or homemade
- 12 oz Italian chicken sausage links, sliced into coins
- 4 cups fresh arugula or spinach – (optional, for added greens)
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Optional: juice from 1/2 lemon, grated Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and/or red pepper flakes
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
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While the pasta is cooking, slice the Italian chicken sausage links into 1/2-inch thick coins. In a separate skillet, sauté the sliced sausage over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, until beautifully browned and heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
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Prepare your greens (if using) by placing them in a colander or strainer. Once the pasta is cooked al dente, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water. Carefully drain the hot pasta over the greens in the strainer; the heat from the pasta will quickly wilt the greens without overcooking them.
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Return the drained pasta and wilted greens to the large pasta pot. Stir in the pesto, the cooked chicken sausage, and the reserved pasta water. If desired, squeeze in the fresh lemon juice at this stage for added brightness.
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Mix all ingredients thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with pesto. Serve immediately, topping with grated Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and/or red pepper flakes, if using. Enjoy your delicious and quick meal!
Notes
Leftovers:
- TO STORE: Refrigerate pesto pasta in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm chicken sausage pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or olive oil.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze pasta in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating on the stove.
Protein Alternatives for Chicken Sausage:
If chicken sausage is unavailable, consider these options (ensure they are cooked separately before adding to the pasta):
- Shrimp
- Diced chicken breast or thighs
- Italian turkey sausage links, sliced
- Ground Italian sausage crumbles (drain fat before adding)
- Pre-cooked frozen meatballs
Customize your pasta choice: feel free to use gluten-free, whole wheat, chickpea, or lentil pasta for different dietary needs or added protein.
Nutrition
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