Description
This Chicken Sausage Pesto Pasta is a quick and delicious weeknight comfort food that combines savory chicken sausage with creamy basil pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. It’s an easy-to-make Italian-inspired dish that’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or rotini
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces chicken sausage, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Sauce
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Red pepper flakes to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Brown Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
- Sauté Garlic and Tomatoes: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2–3 minutes until they soften and release their juices.
- Make Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and add the basil pesto, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir continuously until the sauce is smooth and heated through.
- Toss Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat everything evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it to your desired consistency. Cook for 1–2 minutes until well combined.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and garnish with red pepper flakes and fresh basil leaves if desired. Serve the pasta warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Use sun-dried tomato pesto or spinach pesto as a flavor variation.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Leftovers reheat well; add a splash of cream or milk when warming to maintain creaminess.
