Butternut Squash & Apple Chicken Sausage Rigatoni! Butternut squash, apple chicken sausage and rigatoni pasta are tossed together in this easy, cheesy dish for a satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together in no time at all. This 5 ingredient chicken sausage pasta recipe will quickly become a fall favorite!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by al fresco Chicken Sausage. As always, all opinions are my own.
I think it's safe to say that fall is still a busy season despite the changes we've all experienced this year. Kids head back to school {whether virtually or face-to-face}, things rev up in anticipation of the holidays, and things just feel a little more fast paced than the laid back days of summer.
No matter how much time I have in the kitchen, I always love to incorporate seasonal flavors into my dishes... but I don't always love complicated recipes or long lists of ingredients to purchase. Luckily, my recipe for Butternut Squash & Apple Sausage Rigatoni is an ideal way to check all the boxes!
Tender butternut squash pairs beautifully with al fresco al fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage in this simple pasta dish!
This pasta can be made vegan and gluten free. See substitutions below.
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Ingredients
Believe it or not, this recipe only calls for FIVE ingredients! Here are the details:
- Butternut Squash. A favorite autumn ingredient! In this recipe, I use diced, frozen butternut squash to make prep quick & easy.
- al fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage. Fully cooked, this chicken sausage is a perfect staple to have on hand for fast dinners!
- Rigatoni Pasta. The large, hollow tube of rigatoni makes it ideal for capturing sauces & tasty bits.
- Half & Half. Adding just a half cup will help create a creamy sauce and add moisture to the dish.
- Italian Cheese Blend. A little extra salt and richness comes from using a cheese blend.
The al fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage I used in this recipe has a great flavor that pairs wonderfully with butternut squash for all the fall feels!
Made with dried apples and real maple syrup, it has a hint of sweetness that makes you keep coming back for another bite! The best part about al fresco apple Chicken Sausage is that it comes fully cooked, so all you have to do is heat it through. I like sautéing it until it is brown and caramelized in some spots to give a bit of extra flavor.
Directions
You will love how simple this pasta is to whip up! Here's how I do it:
First, roast the butternut squash. (Be sure to see my expert, TIME-SAVING tips below if you really want to make the process speedy.)
While the butternut squash is cooking, make the pasta according to the package directions.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the apple chicken sausage. Continue to stir until the sausage is nicely browned -- those brown bits add a ton of flavor!
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cooked, drained butternut squash and rigatoni to the pan and give it a good stir to combine. Add half and half and cheese; this will create the sauce for your pasta. Continue to stir until all the pasta is coated.
Sprinkle extra cheese on top before serving if you'd like!
Expert Tips
You can use any type of butternut squash in this dish: Fresh squash broken down and cut into small chunks, pre-cut pieces found in the produce aisle that are ready for cooking, or even frozen butternut squash.
I opted for frozen to keep this dish simple -- butternut squash is one of the only veggies I always buy prepared so that I don't have to deal with peeling the tough skin and slicing through the hard flesh. {I've almost lost a finger or two more than once, and I don't care to re-live those moments!}
How to Cook Butternut Squash
To cook frozen butternut squash, you can simply line a sheet pan with foil, toss it with a bit of olive oil and salt and roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on how large the pieces are. (If you don't like the idea of turning on the oven, you can also prepare the squash on the stovetop in a large skillet.)
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and cook the frozen butternut squash until it's heated through and browned it parts. I prefer roasting because I think those brown bits impart a lot of flavor to the dish, but on a busy weeknight, do what works best for you!
Types of Pasta
As I mentioned above, rigatoni is a great pasta to use if you want a large pasta shape that will hold on to lots of sauce or ingredients in those hollow tubes. The brand I purchased took about 15 minutes to cook to al dente, but make sure to check the packaging of your rigatoni as cook times may vary.
If you can't find or don't like rigatoni, you can use any pasta shape in this dish! Penne is another good option, but you can also use a long pasta shape like spaghetti or linguine, or even a short shape like farfalle or rotini. Feel free to sub in gluten-free pasta if that's your preference, or swap out a hearty grain like farro for something a little different.
Substitutions & Variations
Feel free to make these substitutions for your preferences and different dietary needs:
- Make it vegan: Use a vegan sausage in place of the chicken sausage. Swap out plain, unsweetened non-dairy creamer in place of the half and half. Use vegan "cheese" shreds or a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast in place of the cheese.
- Make it gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta in place of regular rigatoni.
- Other Variations:
- Add other roasted vegetables such as zucchini, onions, Brussels sprouts or broccoli.
- Use ground sausage or chicken or pork sausage links in different flavor varieties.
- Use your favorite jarred cream sauce instead of half & half and cheese.
FAQ's
All brands of chicken apple sausage taste a little different, but in general, chicken sausage is a savory, lightly spiced sausage with little apple bits that give it a hint of sweetness. It reminds me of fall flavors and goes great with things like caramelized onions, roasted vegetables, and of course, pasta with cream sauce!
Sure! Feel free to use your favorite type of chicken, pork, or even vegan sausage. However, the sweetness of the chicken apple sausage really works well with the rest of the flavors in this dish, so I suggest giving it a try!
Stored in an airtight container, this pasta should keep for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Yes. Pasta is actually a great meal to make ahead and freeze. Simply make the dish as directed, cool completely, and place in a freezer-safe container in the freezer. Freeze for up to about 3 months.
Other Chicken Sausage Recipes
Looking for other easy weeknight meals using chicken sausage? Look no further! These are all amazing options that the whole family will enjoy:
- Tuscan Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Vegetables - This one pan meal can’t get much easier! Chicken sausage and veggies are tossed with a deliciously fragrant vinaigrette and baked to perfection in no time at all.
- Glazed Apple Sausage & Sweet Potato Kabobs - This one pan meal can’t get much easier! Chicken sausage and veggies are tossed with a deliciously fragrant vinaigrette and baked to perfection in no time at all.
- Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta - A perfect weekday meal, bow tie pasta is tossed in a rich, cheesy sauce with browned chicken sausage, sauteed mushrooms and spinach.
- Cuban-Inspired Sausage & Rice Skillet - This slightly modernized take on a classic Cuban comfort food is the type of meal that becomes a staple when you’re looking for easy weeknight dinner ideas! It’s a one skillet meal that will appear on the menu again and again.
Butternut Squash & Apple Chicken Sausage Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 15 ounce bag of diced frozen butternut squash
- 16 ounces rigatoni
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 package al fresco Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage sliced
- ½ cup half & half (or milk)
- ½ cup shredded Italian cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425. Line a medium sheet pan with foil. Toss together butternut squash, oil, and about ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the butternut squash is tender and browned in spots. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, make pasta. Bring water to a boil. Add ½ teaspoon sea salt and cook pasta according to package directions. When pasta is finished, drain and set aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cooked butternut squash and rigatoni to the pan, and stir to combine. Add half and half and cheese, and toss together until everything is coated and saucy.
- Serve hot & enjoy!
Notes
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- Add other roasted vegetables such as zucchini, onions, Brussels sprouts or broccoli.
- Use ground sausage or chicken or pork sausage links in different flavor varieties.
- Use your favorite jarred cream sauce instead of half & half and cheese.
