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.
Protein, spinach, fiber, fruit, this recipe has it all and it is delicious.
So happy to hear this! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Perfect fast meal for weekday!
Amen to that! Glad you enjoyed JT.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this meal! It’s been one of my absolute favorites since I found this recipe 4yrs ago! I love it even more the 2nd day. It’s so simple & healthy. Thanks!!
Oh that makes my day, Molly! I’m so glad this recipe is a staple for you!!
I’ve made this twice now, so quick, so yummy!
Bonus, it’s like chili or lasagna, even better the next day!!
Glad I can across this recipe, thanks!
So happy you enjoyed, Steph! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This was a seriously delcious, savory & sweet, creamy, and easy dinner recipe. I left out the apples, because the sausage I get is very fruity–more than the other brand. I also added Shiitake mushrooms with the shallots, and added Gruyere cheese with the Parmesan. Last, I added some Green Cholula, in addition to the pepper flakes. We can’t wait for dinner tonight! I will be making this again for sure. 5 stars
Sounds fabulous, Serene!! I’m so glad you were able to make it your own, and appreciate your feedback and recipe rating!
I have made this several times. And love it!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Kim!
I made this tonight and it’s definitely a keeper, besides being delicious, this recipe is so easy to prepare. I doubled the amount of spinach, used Pecorino Romano instead of Parmesan, withheld the salt, and everyone loved it. This dish can easily be tweaked to use whatever sausage and veggies you have on hand, a perfect weeknight meal.
If your standing in a grocery store, wondering if this recipe is good…it’s not.
Can I ask why not, Jen?
Great easy recipe.. I omitted a few items because I wasn’t prepared and just making a quick dish and it was still yummy!!! Thanks for the post.
Because I didn’t have all the right ingredients, I used chickpeas instead of the beans, left out the spinach, and used macaroni noodles for the pasta. However, it turned out absolutely delicious!! Perfect lunch dish; I will definitely make this again in the future. My only recommendation is, if you’re halving the recipe, still use the full pound of sausage. :)
Made this tonight and it was a WHOLE FAMILY FAV! Putting this into the rotation!
Yay!! So glad to hear it – thanks so much for your feedback!
GREAT RECIPE! I USED WAY MORE CHEESE AND TRICOLOR ROTINI, BUT THE DINNER WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY MY FAMILY! I ALSO LEFT OUT THE CHILI PEPPER BECAUSE I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD WHO THINKS SPICE IS GOING TO KILL HER, BUT THE BASIC RECIPE WAS PERFECT! THANKS FOR DEVELOPING IT AND SHARING :)
I added the juice from about 3/4 of a lemon and a tablespoon and a half of maple syrup – this was so good! Thanks!