Description
This Chicken Zucchini Pasta Skillet is a quick and delicious one-pan meal featuring Italian-style chicken sausages, tender zucchini, and grape tomatoes cooked with small pasta in a flavorful chicken broth. Finished with fresh basil, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese, this dish is perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 12 oz Italian Style Chicken Sausages, cut into discs
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper, optional
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz uncooked Radiatore pasta, or any other small pasta shape
- 2 cups zucchini, chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, divided
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Heat Skillet and Cook Sausages & Onion: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken sausages and diced onion. Cook until the sausages are browned and the onion is tender, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Season and Sauté Garlic: Season the mixture with salt, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Add Chicken Broth and Bring to Boil: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits stuck to the skillet. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Cook Pasta: Add the uncooked Radiatore pasta to the boiling broth mixture. Stir frequently for about 10 minutes until the pasta is mostly tender but still slightly firm.
- Add Zucchini and Finish Cooking: Stir in the chopped zucchini and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes until the zucchini is tender and most of the chicken broth has been absorbed by the pasta.
- Incorporate Lemon Juice, Cheese, and Tomatoes: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, and the halved grape tomatoes to combine thoroughly.
- Garnish and Serve: Top the pasta skillet with the fresh chopped basil and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful, easy skillet meal!
Notes
- You can substitute Italian chicken sausages with turkey or pork sausages if preferred.
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add a pinch of chili powder.
- If you don’t have Radiatore pasta, use any small pasta such as rotini, penne, or fusilli.
- This recipe is perfect for meal prep; leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated on the stovetop.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure the sausages are gluten-free as well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 340 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
