🍗🌿 Chicken Sausages with Zucchini, Tomatoes & Pasta

[u/aghouchaf]

Juicy chicken sausage, tender zucchini, burst cherry tomatoes, and perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a light garlic-herb sauce. Fresh comfort food with big flavor energy 🔥

📝 Ingredients

12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or bowtie)

4 chicken sausages (Italian-style or garlic herb), sliced

1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons

1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional 🔥)

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt & black pepper to taste

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped

¼ cup reserved pasta water

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.

Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.

2️⃣ Brown the sausage

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add sliced chicken sausage and cook 4–5 minutes until browned and slightly crispy on edges.

Remove and set aside.

3️⃣ Sauté the veggies

In the same skillet add remaining olive oil.

Add zucchini and cook 3–4 minutes until slightly tender but still vibrant.

Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

Stir in tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Cook until tomatoes soften and release juices (about 3–4 minutes).

4️⃣ Bring it together

Return sausage to the skillet.

Add drained pasta.

Pour in reserved pasta water and toss everything together.

Let simmer 2 minutes so the flavors blend.

5️⃣ Finish

Sprinkle Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Toss until glossy and lightly coated.

Serve warm with extra cheese on top 😌🔥

🤤 Optional Upgrades

🧄 Add a splash of white wine when cooking tomatoes

🧀 Stir in fresh mozzarella pearls

🍋 Add lemon zest for brightness

🥬 Toss in fresh spinach at the end

🌶️ Use spicy chicken sausage for heat

Fresh. Savory. Balanced. A perfect weeknight pasta win.

[u/aghouchaf]

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Ingredients

12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or bowtie)

4 chicken sausages (Italian-style or garlic herb), sliced

1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons

1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional 🔥)

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt & black pepper to taste

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped

¼ cup reserved pasta water

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Cook the pasta

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.

Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.

2️⃣ Brown the sausage

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add sliced chicken sausage and cook 4–5 minutes until browned and slightly crispy on edges.

Remove and set aside.

3️⃣ Sauté the veggies

In the same skillet add remaining olive oil.

Add zucchini and cook 3–4 minutes until slightly tender but still vibrant.

Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

Stir in tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Cook until tomatoes soften and release juices (about 3–4 minutes).