Recently I tossed together some farmer’s market finds with a box of pasta and some refrigerator staples to create Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta! This easy, nutritious meal is crushing it in the “something new” and “totally delicious” departments!
Cooked pasta is tossed with sauted chicken sausage, diced fresh apple, spinach, and white beans to create a quick and hearty meal that’s ready in about 20 minutes. No kidding!
Start by cooking 1lb gluten-free gemelli pasta (or any short cut pasta) in a big pot of salted, boiling water until al dente. Before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water then set it aside.
The star of this dish are these gluten-free Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages I can’t stop buying at the grocery store. The ingredient list, which includes maple syrup and sweet apple, was actually the inspiration for this dish! If you can’t find this exact brand, just look for something similar.
Slice up the sausage along with 1 sweet apple, 1 large shallot, and 4 cloves garlic.
Heat 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat then add the shallots and sausage and saute until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Next add the apple and garlic, along with a pinch of red chili pepper flakes, and saute until the apple is tender, about 5 minutes. The red chili pepper flakes are optional, but I think they add a nice flavor contrast to the maple syrup and sweet bites of apple in the pasta!
Next add a 15oz can Great Northern Beans that have been drained and rinsed. Great northern beans are soft so when they’re tossed into the mix they lend a creamy consistency to the sauce.
Finally add 6oz baby spinach and 1 cup chicken broth. Toss the spinach with tongs until wilted, about 1 minute.
Add the mixture into the pot with the drained pasta then stir together with 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, and enough of the pasta cooking water to keep the pasta nice and creamy.
Scoop onto plates, top with more parmesan cheese, if you please, then serve!
The sweet bites of fresh apple are divine with the maple syrup-laced chicken sausage, but the dish is brought back to the savory side with lots of garlic, chicken broth, and warmth from the red chili pepper flakes. So delicious — enjoy!
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