Pasta A La Chicken Apple Sausage

I don't know if you have tried the chicken apple sausages that they have at Costco but they are amazing! Chad and I love when they get them and usually have a week of 

chicken sausage this or that for dinner...

I have not gone over load with them this year (I want to enjoy them for more than a week)

I tend to make up my meals as I feel hungry and what is on hand (not a good idea if you don't have a good imagination, you'll eat the same thing over and over) 

Luckily I had parents that cook really well  and lots of different food... not so repetitive!

So I like to think I have a good sense of flavors and,

coming up with a recipe on the fly is kinda my adventure time!

This week I made what I am calling Pasta A La Chicken Apple Sausage!

(yes that is not so creative, but it is self explanatory and to the point, which is that I like :))

This is a great go to meal and can be used with any sausage u like! 

This is the type I get from Costco... SO GOOD!

 Ingredients:

3 med size Sausage (your choice of type: spicy would be good alternative!)

2 cup zucchini

1 cup Spinach

1 cup Tirali pasta per serving

1 red onion

1 tbs oinon powder

1tbs garlic seasoning

1/4 cup pesto

4 tbs olive oil for onion and pasta water*

salt and pepper to taste

Lets start by bringing our water to a boil.

I always put a pinch of salt and 2 tbs of olive oil in my water when boiling

the salt helps flavor

the olive oil keeps the pasta from sticking to each other

 Once your water boils add 1 cup pasta per serving 

and boil for 7-10 minutes

I really like Tirali pasta, its kinda a fun looking noodle and it is a great size noodle. 

Once your water is heating up lets start by chopping our sausage:

I used three sausage and cut two into halves and slices and one into smaller fourths so that I would get hearty chunks as well as that flavor well distributed through out the whole dish!

 Next chop your onion:

I used half of a red onion and also a few shallots sliced

add the chopped onion to a skillet with 2 tbs of olive oil, and your onion powder, garlic seasoning and pinch of salt and pepper

cook these till they caramelize on med-high heat (5-to-10 mins)

Once your onions are sizzling chop up your zucchini I like zucchini so i added a whole one to the pasta, if you desire less a half of a large zucchini would still compliment this dish great.

By now your onions should look like this. nice and browned and reduced in size. 

Now add your zucchini and sausage to your onions

and cook on med-high heat stirring frequently for 10mins

(the chicken apple sausage is fully cooked so you don't have to worry about under cooking the meat)

If you are using a sausage that is not fully cooked add the sausage to the skillet with the onions in the beginning so you can cook it for longer.

*cook with lid over top to seal in moisture and to steam veggies. 

 your pasta should be boiling by now and your sausage hot, zucchini soft and juicy, and its time for the spinach. I simply remove the skillet from the heat and add the spinach to the top of hot food, and cover with lid for at least 3 minutes. This will make the spinach nice and tender without burning the leaves, and/or overcooking the spinach and making them overly wilt.

Once your pasta is tender, drain and return pasta to pot to mix with pesto and stir

Add in the sausage, spinach, zucchini and onion and stir lightly to not mash zucchini and spinach

Doesn't that look good!

Serve with a salad or some bread sticks and marinara and it's a complete meal!

This was super easy to prepare and make. 

Total time was about 20 minutes because of the water and onions... 

This is a pretty dish that will sneak in some veggies to the pickiest of eaters :)

Happy Bellies Make for Happy Homes!

I pray you enjoy this meal too!

Blessings,

Janelle