Description
This creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta is a 25-minute meal made with rigatoni, chicken sausage, spinach, mushrooms, marinara sauce, and goat cheese. It’s a healthy, high-protein comfort food perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces chicken sausage, sliced (mild Italian with bell pepper recommended)
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 4 cups chopped spinach
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup goat cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings – grated Parmesan, fresh basil, parsley, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced chicken sausage and cook for 3–4 minutes until browned. Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes.
- Add mushrooms to the skillet and sauté for 2–3 minutes. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.
- Reduce heat to low. Add marinara sauce and cooked pasta, stirring to combine.
- Mix in goat cheese and a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water until the sauce becomes creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve warm, topped with Parmesan, basil, or red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Use high-quality chicken sausage with minimal additives for best flavor.
- Substitute goat cheese with feta or a dairy-free cheese alternative if desired.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4–5 days.
- Add extra veggies like zucchini, broccoli, or bell peppers for more nutrition.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 451
- Sugar: 7.6g
- Sodium: 1199mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3.9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 9.5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 69mg
Keywords: Chicken Sausage Pasta, creamy pasta, healthy dinner, easy weeknight meal, goat cheese pasta, Italian pasta, protein-packed pasta