Craving a rich, satisfying pasta dish that comes together in under 30 minutes? Look no further. This Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta is the answer to your weeknight dinner dreams. It combines savory chicken sausage, tender pasta, and a luxuriously smooth cream sauce into a one-pan meal the whole family will love. Forget complicated recipes; this is pure comfort food, made simple.
We developed this recipe to be both incredibly flavorful and ridiculously easy. The secret is in how we build the sauce, using the fond from browning the sausage as a flavor base and finishing with parmesan and a touch of pasta water to create a silky, restaurant-quality texture. It’s a dish that tastes like you spent hours on it, but it will be our little secret that it was ready in a flash.
Why This Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta Recipe Works
You’ll find plenty of recipes out there, but this one is a keeper. We’ve focused on creating the perfect balance of flavor and simplicity, ensuring you get a perfect result every single time.
- One-Pan Wonder: Everything cooks in a single skillet, from the sausage to the sauce. This means deeper flavor development and, more importantly, minimal cleanup.
- Unbelievably Creamy Sauce: By using a combination of heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and starchy pasta water, we create a sauce that clings to every noodle without being heavy or greasy.
- Quick & Easy: This entire meal is ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes, making it the perfect solution for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base. Feel free to add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to make it your own. For a similar dish with a different flavor profile, you might enjoy this Tuscan Chicken Pasta.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this dish is its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need to create this amazing Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta.
For the Pasta and Sausage:
- Pasta: 12 ounces of a short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or rotini. The ridges are perfect for catching the creamy sauce.
- Chicken Sausage: 1 pound of sweet or mild Italian chicken sausage, casings removed.
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon for browning the sausage.
- Onion & Garlic: 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped, and 4 cloves of garlic, minced. These form the aromatic base of our sauce.
For the Cream Sauce:
- Chicken Broth: 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth to deglaze the pan.
- Heavy Cream: 1 cup of heavy cream for that signature rich and creamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Please avoid the pre-shredded kind, as it contains anti-caking agents and won’t melt as smoothly.
- Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and a pinch of dried oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Fresh Parsley: For garnish and a touch of fresh, peppery flavor.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps for a flawless, delicious pasta dinner.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken sausage and break it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Build the Cream Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, stirring to release all the flavorful bits stuck to the bottom. Bring to a simmer and let it reduce slightly for 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Combine and Finish: Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious homemade Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta. For a different but equally comforting sausage dish, check out our Autumn Sausage Pasta.
Expert Tips for the Best Results
A few simple tricks can elevate this dish from great to absolutely unforgettable.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook your pasta just until al dente. It will continue to cook slightly when you toss it in the hot cream sauce.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: This is a non-negotiable for a smooth sauce! Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starches that prevent it from melting properly, resulting in a grainy texture.
- The Magic of Pasta Water: That starchy water is liquid gold. The emulsifiers in the starch help the sauce bind to the pasta and give it a silky, luxurious finish. Use it to thin your sauce to the perfect consistency.
- Control the Heat: When adding the cheese, make sure your heat is on low. If the sauce is too hot, the cheese can separate and become oily.
Delicious Variations
While this Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta is fantastic as is, it’s also a great canvas for other flavors. If you love pasta dishes that are easy to customize, you’ll also appreciate this Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe.
- Add Some Greens: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach during the last minute of cooking until it wilts.
- Spice It Up: Use hot Italian chicken sausage or add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a bit of heat.
- Veggie Boost: Sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers make excellent additions. Add them along with the onions.
- Change the Protein: This recipe works well with ground turkey or even crumbled bacon.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture. Microwaving can cause the cream sauce to separate, so stovetop reheating is recommended for the best results.
What to Serve with Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta
This is a hearty, all-in-one meal, but a fresh side dish can round it out beautifully. A simple green salad with a vinaigrette or some steamed broccoli would be perfect. For something a bit more substantial, a side of crusty bread for dipping, perhaps with this Olive Oil Bread Dip, is always a winner.
While the cream and parmesan are central to this recipe’s flavor, you can try substituting full-fat coconut cream and a high-quality, dairy-free parmesan alternative. The texture and taste will be different, but it can be a good option for a dairy-free diet.
You can, but the sauce will be less rich and may not be as thick. Heavy cream has a higher fat content, which makes it more stable and less likely to curdle when simmered.
The key is to use low heat. After simmering the broth and cream, turn the heat down to low before slowly stirring in the parmesan cheese. A high temperature can cause the dairy to separate.
Sweet or mild Italian chicken sausage works beautifully in this recipe, as its savory herbs complement the creamy sauce. However, you can also use hot Italian chicken sausage if you prefer a little spice.
This dish is very versatile! Fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or steamed broccoli are all fantastic additions. Stir in spinach at the end to wilt, and add other cooked vegetables along with the pasta.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of milk or broth to restore the sauce’s creamy consistency.
While the cream and parmesan are central to this recipe’s flavor, you can try substituting full-fat coconut cream and a high-quality, dairy-free parmesan alternative. The texture and taste will be different, but it can be a good option for a dairy-free diet.
You can, but the sauce will be less rich and may not be as thick. Heavy cream has a higher fat content, which makes it more stable and less likely to curdle when simmered.
The key is to use low heat. After simmering the broth and cream, turn the heat down to low before slowly stirring in the parmesan cheese. A high temperature can cause the dairy to separate.
Sweet or mild Italian chicken sausage works beautifully in this recipe, as its savory herbs complement the creamy sauce. However, you can also use hot Italian chicken sausage if you prefer a little spice.
This dish is very versatile! Fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or steamed broccoli are all fantastic additions. Stir in spinach at the end to wilt, and add other cooked vegetables along with the pasta.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of milk or broth to restore the sauce’s creamy consistency.
More Delicious Dinner Recipes
We hope you love this Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta as much as we do! It’s a true staple in our home. If you tried it, please leave a comment below to let us know how it turned out. For more recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest!
Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta: The Ultimate 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner
This Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta is the ultimate 30-minute, one-pan meal. Savory chicken sausage and tender pasta are tossed in a rich, velvety parmesan cream sauce for a simple and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken sausage, break it apart, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, add onion to the same skillet and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, simmering for 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Return sausage to the skillet, add the drained pasta, and toss to coat. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: For the smoothest sauce, avoid pre-shredded cheese.
Reserve Pasta Water: This is key to creating a silky sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
Don't Boil the Cream: Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent the sauce from separating.
Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta: The Ultimate 30-Minute Weeknight Dinner
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken sausage, break it apart, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium, add onion to the same skillet and cook until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, simmering for 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Return sausage to the skillet, add the drained pasta, and toss to coat. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
Reserve Pasta Water: This is key to creating a silky sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta.
Don't Boil the Cream: Keep the heat low when adding cheese to prevent the sauce from separating.
