Butternut Squash & Apple Chicken Sausage Rigatoni

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!

5 Ingredient Recipe

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.

Apple Chicken Sausage

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 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. 

Frozen Butternut Squash

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!}

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! 

Rigatoni 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.

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.