Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta easy, nutritious, and ready in about 20 minutes. Try something new for dinner tonight!
Recently I tossed together some farmer’s market finds with a box of pasta and some refrigerator staples to create Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta!
This easy, nutritious meal is crushing it in the “something new” and “totally delicious” departments!
Cooked pasta is tossed with sauted chicken sausage, diced fresh apple, spinach, and white beans to create a quick and hearty meal that’s ready in about 20 minutes. No kidding!
Start by cooking 1lb gluten-free gemelli pasta (or any short cut pasta) in a big pot of salted, boiling water until al dente.
Before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water then set it aside.
The star of this dish are these gluten-free Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages I can’t stop buying at the grocery store. The ingredient list, which includes maple syrup and sweet apple, was actually the inspiration for this dish!
If you can’t find this exact brand, just look for something similar.
Slice up the sausage along with 1 sweet apple, 1 large shallot, and 4 cloves garlic.
Heat 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat then add the shallots and sausage and saute until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Next add the apple and garlic, along with a pinch of red chili pepper flakes, and saute until the apple is tender, about 5 minutes.
The red chili pepper flakes are optional, but I think they add a nice flavor contrast to the maple syrup and sweet bites of apple in the pasta!
Next add a 15oz can Great Northern Beans that have been drained and rinsed. Great northern beans are soft so when they’re tossed into the mix they lend a creamy consistency to the sauce.
Finally add 6oz baby spinach and 1 cup chicken broth. Toss the spinach with tongs until wilted, about 1 minute.
Add the mixture into the pot with the drained pasta then stir together with 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, and enough of the pasta cooking water to keep the pasta nice and creamy.
Scoop onto plates, top with more parmesan cheese, if you please, then serve!
The sweet bites of fresh apple are divine with the maple syrup-laced chicken sausage, but the dish is brought back to the savory side with lots of garlic, chicken broth, and warmth from the red chili pepper flakes. So delicious — enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb gluten free gemelli, or other medium-cut pasta
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large shallot or 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 12 oz Sweet-Apple Chicken Sausage, sliced, or similar sausage
- 1 sweet apple, peeled then chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- pinch red chili pepper flakes
- salt and pepper
- 15 oz can Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water then drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sausage then saute until sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until apple is tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, beans, and spinach then toss with tongs until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
- Pour sausage and apple mixture into pot with pasta then add parmesan cheese. Stir until combined, adding reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I had the most delicious butternut squash bisque there once. It was like sunshine in a bowl, which I’ve never been able to replicate. Mmmm…. hungry.
Love the use of beans in pasta…I’ve never tried it before, but am interested to do so!
I think Lincoln gets cuter every time you share a picture. Gah! That face. How are you ever going to say no to that?!
That cake looked ah-mazing! Yum.
This pasta also looks delicious. I love that you added beans for an extra kick of nutrition.
Yes please!! Trying this soon.
That is my kind of pasta meal! I just picked up a bag of apples at my farmers’ market. They will be just perfect in this dish.
Lincoln is TOO CUTE!!!
I’m always weirded out about fruit in my savory dishes but you’ve sold me on this one. I’m tempted to ditch my other plans and go with this one. I’m also planning on making your salmon salad with honey-apple cider vinaigrette. So excited!
this looks amazing, and if i was not on a whole foods sugar detox for a week, i’d make it tonight.
The pasta sounds great. Can’t get enough apple this time of year!
This is exactly the recipe I am looking for! I just bought chicken apple sausage too :)
I love authentic Italian food so much better than the chain places. Nice you can still get out with the little one at home.
I love that you include pictures of all of the steps – it makes it so easy to follow along. Love this apple sausage pasta recipe! Thanks for sharing :)
This looks great! Good timing, I just bought chicken apple sausage at the store yesterday :)