chicken sausage spaghetti bolognese

What Kind of Sausage is Best For Pasta?

Pasta can be made using nearly any type of sausage, but I tend to prefer chicken sausage, because it’s lighter and not as greasy as pork sausage.

I find that chicken sausage compliments the other ingredients without overwhelming them.

There are a number of chicken sausage brands on the market. This recipe works well using mild or spicy Italian chicken sausage, but you can opt for anything from Andouille to Spinach and Feta to Cajun sausage if you prefer. Make sure to choose a brand of chicken sausage that is gluten free if gluten is an issue for you. Aidells Sausage Company, Al Fresco, and Applegate Farms are all brands that offer great gluten free chicken sausages.

How Long Should Chicken Sausage Be Cooked?

Sliced chicken sausage sautéed over high heat in a skillet takes about 8-10 minutes to cook. The safe internal temperature for chicken sausage is 165 degrees Fahrenheit and can be checked using a food thermometer.

1. To make this Chicken Sausage Spaghetti, start by mincing 4 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots (you can also use ½ an onion in place of the shallots if you prefer).
2. Chop 2 packed cups of kale (feel free to use spinach in place of kale if you like).
3. Diagonally slice 1 package (equals 4-5 sausages) of Italian chicken sausage.
4. Place a pot of water on the stove top and bring to a boil. Prepare 1 package of gluten free spaghetti noodles according to the instructions. Cook just until al dente, drain, and rinse the noodles under cold water.
5. Place a cast iron skillet or large, heavy bottomed skillet on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Add 2 Tbsp. olive oil to the skillet.
6. Once the oil is hot, place the sliced sausages in the skillet. Sauté the sausages for 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Once the sausages are slightly browned and fully cooked, remove them from the skillet and set aside.
7. Place the minced garlic and shallots (or onions) in the skillet and sauté on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
8. Deglaze the pan by adding ¼ cup of low sodium chicken broth to it. Remove the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spatula.

How To Make Chicken Sausage Pasta

Once the garlic, shallots, and sausage is sauteed, it’s time to add the marinara sauce and kale to the skillet. The noodles are added to the skillet as well, once they are cooked, drained, and rinsed under cold water.

1. Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet, which has been deglazed with chicken stock.
2. Pour 1 16 oz. jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce to the skillet and stir all of the ingredients together.
3. Add 2 packed cups of chopped kale (or spinach) to the skillet and stir until combined.
4. Add ½ cup of low sodium chicken broth and ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Stir until combined.
5. Simmer the sauce mixture for 5-6 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
6. Add the as many of the cooked spaghetti noodles to the skillet that you like and toss until coated in the sauce.

Sprinkle ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese over the pasta and toss until coated. When it comes to sauce, feel free to choose a brand that you love. This pasta calls for 1 16 oz. jar of sauce, so you may have a bit leftover if using a larger jar. Feel free to add the extra sauce, or save it in the refrigerator for another recipe. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can whip up a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce.

Which Spaghetti Noodles Are Best?

This recipe is gluten free and calls for a brand of gluten free spaghetti noodles. Feel free to use any brand of spaghetti noodles if gluten is not an issue for you.

Gluten free pasta differs greatly depending on the brand used. Some brands are superior to others in terms of texture and taste.

I recommend a high quality brand of spaghetti noodles, such as Tinkyada, Jovial, or Barilla. I have tested a lot of gluten free noodles over the years and have found these to yield the best results.

• For success when making gluten free pasta, I have found it to be very important not to overcook the noodles. Be sure to cook the spaghetti noodles just until al dente.
• As soon as the pasta is cooked to al dente, drain the noodles and rinse them immediately under cold water. This will prevent them from sticking together and helps the noodles retain their texture.
• Rinsing the noodles allows them to be tossed with all of the other ingredients in the skillet without falling apart or becoming mushy.