Creamy Chicken & Sausage Pasta

Creamy Chicken & Sausage Pasta – Penne pasta with shredded chicken and sausage tossed in a delicious creamy parmesan sauce.

This creamy and delicious pasta has a slight kick to it due to the hot links used in this recipe. The spice is not overwhelming by any means and if you really like spice you can sprinkle red pepper flakes on your pasta at the end.

Some great substitutions for the hot links would be kielbasa, Portuguese sausage or any other of your favorite types of fully cooked sausage. I prefer using hot links in this recipe because I love the flavor and added spice.

You’ll need to shred 2 cups of chicken to use in this recipe. I bought a rotisserie chicken and used that! The shredded chicken works great in this recipe because it really absorbs the sauce and flavors of the creamy parmesan sauce.

You can also boil chicken breasts until cooked through (165 degrees) and shred that if you don’t have rotisserie chicken.

Ingredients you need for this recipe:

• Hot Link Sausage – You’ll need about two hot links, sliced about 1/4″ thick. This is my favorite brand.
• Chicken – Cooked shredded chicken. I used rotisserie.
• Onion – About 1 small yellow onion.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic is best.
• Milk – I used whole milk, but you can use whatever milk you prefer.
• Cream Cheese – At room temperature
• Pepper – Fresh cracked black pepper
• Salt
• Butter – I use unsalted butter, so if you are using salted, half the salt in this recipe.
• Parmesan Cheese – I always use a pretty good quality parmesan and grate it myself. But, you can use whatever you have on hand.
• Green Bell Pepper
• Penne Pasta– About half a pound of penne pasta. If you don’t have penne, you can use farfalle, roitini and more.
• Parsley – Fresh is best! But, if you don’t have fresh, use about a third of the amount dried (1 tsp).
• Basil – Fresh is best! But, if you don’t have fresh, use about a third of the amount dried (1 tsp).

Tools to have on hand:

• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife
• Measuring Spoons + Cups
• Skillet
• Saucepan
• Cooking Spoon

How to make Creamy Chicken and Sausage Pasta:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, add sliced sausage and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Remove sausage from skillet.

Add a tablespoon of butter to the leftover grease from the sausage and add the onions and peppers. Cook over medium heat until tender. Then, add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Sprinkle flour, salt and pepper on the cooked veggies and mix to combine. Slowly add the milk, stirring frequently, until fully combined. Add cream cheese and parmesan cheese and melt into the sauce.

Add shredded chicken, sliced sausage, fresh chopped basil and parsley to the sauce. Cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, to allow flavors to develop.

Finally, add penne pasta to the sauce and toss to combine.

Serve pasta with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional).

If you enjoyed this recipe, here are a few more of my favorite pasta recipes I think you’ll enjoy:

• Creamy Tomato Cajun Chicken Pasta – Cajun chicken and farfalle pasta tossed in deliciously creamy tomato sauce sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley and green onions.
• Baked Ziti Recipe –  Loaded with ground beef, spinach, onions, tomatoes and is all baked to a golden perfection with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Chicken Parmesan –  (Chicken Parmigiana) Crispy breaded baked chicken topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Serve over a bed of pasta with marinara sauce.
• Crockpot Italian Meatballs – My crockpot meatballs are not only super easy and packed with flavor, but they are so tender and delicious and melt in your mouth with every single bite.
• Classic Sausage Lasagna – Super delicious and simple lasagna recipe made with sausage, homemade robust tomato sauce, mozzarella and ricotta cheese. This is the perfect family and kid friendly comfort meal.

Print Pin

Creamy Chicken and Sausage Pasta

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword creamy chicken and sausage pasta

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 2 Hot Links sliced 1/4" thick
• 2 cups Chicken cooked, shredded
• 1 cup Onion chopped
• 2 cloves Garlic minced
• 2 cups Milk
• 1/4 cup Cream Cheese room temp
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 cup Green Bell Pepper chopped
• 1/2 lb. Penne
• 1 tbsp Parsley fresh, chopped
• 1 tbsp Basil fresh, chopped

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet, add sliced sausage and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Remove sausage from skillet.
• Add a tablespoon of butter to the leftover grease from the sausage and add the onions and peppers. Cook over medium heat until tender. Then, add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Sprinkle flour, salt and pepper on the cooked veggies and mix to combine. Slowly add the milk, stirring frequently, until fully combined. Add cream cheese and parmesan cheese and melt into the sauce.
• Add shredded chicken, sliced sausage, fresh chopped basil and parsley to the sauce. Cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, to allow flavors to develop.
• Finally, add penne pasta to the sauce and toss to combine.
• Serve pasta with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional).