Description
A colorful and satisfying pasta dish with juicy chicken sausages, tender zucchini, and sweet cherry tomatoes tossed with perfectly cooked pasta for a fresh and hearty weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta of choice (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 12 oz chicken sausages, sliced into rounds
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté sausage slices until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook onion until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add zucchini and cook for 4–5 minutes until just tender.
- Stir in tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook until tomatoes begin to soften.
- Return sausage to skillet and toss to combine.
- Add pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water, tossing until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Add spinach or arugula at the end for extra greens.
- Swap chicken sausage for turkey sausage or plant-based sausage.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes for a more intense flavor.
- Add a splash of cream for a richer sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
