Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta
This easy pasta recipe is a great quick meal for families. Packed with sweet, crispy apples and chicken apple sausages slices, this meal is will be a family favorite!
This is one of those dinners that surprises people in the best way.
Apple chicken sausage pasta sounds a little unexpected at first, but once it’s on the table, it makes perfect sense. The sausage is savory, the apples add a gentle sweetness, and everything comes together quickly in one pan with pasta and spinach for a meal that feels comforting, not complicated.
It’s fast enough for a busy weeknight, approachable enough for kids, and flexible enough to work with what you already have. And as a bonus, it makes a generous amount, which means leftovers you’ll actually be happy to see in the fridge.
Why this recipe works for real life
This pasta earns a regular spot in rotation because it’s:
- ready quickly and easy to pull together after a long day
- built on familiar flavors with just a small twist
- hearty enough to be satisfying, with leftovers to spare
It’s a great example of how adding one slightly different ingredient — like apple — can bring interest to a meal without making it feel risky.
Try these other savory apple recipes:
How to make this easy pasta recipe:
This pasta is a great quick weeknight meal. For the full set of directions, make sure you scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, and save 1/2 cup of the pasta water when you drain.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a very large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the olive oil and cook the shallots and sausage until the sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the chopped apple, minced garlic, and red chili pepper flakes to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender.
- Add the broth, beans, and spinach, and cook until the spinach is wilted, just one minute.
- Add the pasta to the sausage/apple mixture.
- Mix in the parmesan cheese, adding some of the reserved pasta water until you reach the desired consistency.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
Leftover pasta keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, warm gently in the microwave, stirring halfway through. A small splash of water or broth helps bring it back to life.
*A note on apples in savory meals:
Apples don’t have to be “a new thing” at the table.
Most kids already like apples, which makes them a great bridge ingredient when paired with savory flavors like sausage, garlic, and cheese. In this dish, they soften and mellow as they cook, adding balance rather than standing out.
Familiar ingredients, used in new ways, are often the easiest way to build variety.
Meals like this don’t rely on bold flavors or big changes — they work because they’re familiar, flexible, and easy to come back to. And those are often the meals families remember most.
For busy, real life families
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Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 4 Tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 shallot chopped
- 12 ounces sweet apple chicken sausage sliced
- 1 honey crisp apple chopped (you can peel if you want, I didn’t)
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pinch red chili pepper flakes optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 15 oz great northern beans drained and rinsed
- 6 oz spinach
- 1 cup chicken broth
- â…“ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 up pasta water when you drain.16 oz rotini pasta
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a very large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the olive oil and cook the shallots, and sausage until the sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes.4 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 shallot, 12 ounces sweet apple chicken sausage
- Add the apple, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper.1 honey crisp apple, 4 garlic cloves, 1 pinch red chili pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Cook 5 minutes, or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, beans, and spinach, and cook about 1 minute, stirring, until spinach is wilted.15 oz great northern beans, 1 cup chicken broth, 6 oz spinach
- Add the pasta to the sausage/apple mixture.
- Add the parmesan cheese and mix to combine, adding the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Delicious! The whole family loved it including the kids! Perfect mix of sweet with the apples and apple chicken sausage!
Ugh. I moved every 2-3 years my whole life until 25 years ago. Your story made me cringe, because I have so many bad memories of the actual moving day!!! But this pasta made up for it! I love that the apples get sauteed along with the sausage. The flavor must be outstanding!