Everybody loves a good five-ingredient meal. Real ones know three ingredients is where it’s at. And when it comes to three-ingredient dinners, pasta + sauce + sausage is the undisputed champion.
Now, some might say it’s “cheating” to combine a jar of premade pasta sauce with a perfectly seasoned chicken sausage and call it only two ingredients—especially when our Italian Herb Chicken Sausage basically comes preloaded with an entire spice cabinet’s worth of herbs, roasted chicken flavor, and Calabrian chilies. But like mama always said: work smarter, not harder. And nobody is out here doing math when the result is delicious and doesn’t require breaking a sweat.
That said, leveling up your weeknight pasta favorites (and your protein intake) is easier than you think. Below, we’ve rounded up a few chef-approved, ultra-easy chicken sausage pasta recipes. Sure, they require a bit more finesse than just dumping sausage and sauce in a pot (also a good choice), but the (minimal) extra effort pays off big time. Think less “basic weeknight dinner,” more amore on a Tuesday.
Baked Ziti with Italian Herb Chicken Sausage
Everyone has a baked ziti recipe in their back pocket, but why settle for good when great is an option? Adding our Italian Herb Chicken Sausage unlocks a wave of herbs and Calabrian chilies that melt right into the mozzarella, ricotta, and tomato sauce. It’s an easy, comforting baked ziti you’ll keep in your rotation forever.
Make it yourself: Get our easy baked ziti recipe here.
Chef Kirk Gilbert’s spicy pink pasta made with Calabrian chili flakes and The Sausage Project Italian Herb Sausage.
Spicy Pink Pasta with Chicken Sausage
One of our most popular pasta recipes earned its spotlight for good reason. It’s gorgeous, it’s silky, and it’s almost embarrassingly easy. This one-pot wonder blends a double dose of Calabrian chiles—thanks to the sausage plus extra flakes—with a zippy vodka sauce. Don’t worry: cream and Parm bring everything back into balance. It slaps. Every. Single. Time.
Make it yourself: This one’s a keeper.
Crispy Gnocchi & Italian Herb Sausage
Sure, you can have a five-ingredient dinner, but if it leaves you washing five knives and five cutting boards, have you really “won”? That’s why we love a sheet-pan supper—especially one that delivers crispy gnocchi, savory Italian Herb Chicken Sausage, tender broccoli, and a drizzle of honey for good measure. Minimal effort, minimal cleanup, maximum satisfaction. Pour yourself a glass of wine. You’ve earned it (emotionally, not effort-wise).
Make it yourself: Follow our lead to a satisfying meal.
Creamy Sausage & Sage Baked Orzo
We adore a sheet-pan meal, but the skillet is where flavor truly blossoms. This twist on the viral baked-orzo trend pairs rice-shaped pasta with creamy Boursin cheese, spinach, and sage. The Italian Herb Chicken Sausage is the real workhorse, releasing its Calabrian chilies and herbs into every bite. It’s wildly satisfying and deeply fun to make—there’s a reason this recipe went viral. Watching that cheese melt into a glorious swirl will fix your entire week.
Make it yourself: Go ahead and film it. That’s what the internet is for.
Crispy Air Fryer Ravioli, Chicken Sausage & Broccoli
Normally, eating pasta with your hands is a fast track to getting kicked out of a restaurant (which feels regressive, but fine). Bread it, crisp it, dunk it in dip, though? Suddenly you’ve got a handheld snack that transcends utensils altogether. These air-fried ravioli and chicken sausage bites are more St. Louis than San Marino, but every bite is an absolute banger.
Make it yourself: You’re 20 minutes away from perfect pasta snacks.
Melty Cheddar Sausage Mac
Look, we know calling mac & cheese “pasta” might upset certain traditionalists. If it ruffles feathers, go ahead and call it béchamel and cavatappi to calm your nonna. Either way, this recipe is a winner. It starts with a classic, ultra-creamy mac base, then doubles down with our Melty Cheddar Chicken Sausage. Cheese + cheese is the kind arithmetic we can get behind.
Make it yourself: Bring on the cozy.
Pumpkin & Sausage Pasta with Sage & Brown Butter
Pumpkin has spent far too long trapped in pies and sugary lattes that could knock out an entire influencer house. This pasta fixes that. It blends pumpkin (or butternut squash—follow your heart) with crispy sage, brown butter, and Italian Herb Chicken Sausage for a dish that is, scientifically speaking, a warm autumn hug in a bowl.
Make it yourself: Get your step-by-step recipe here.
Sausage + Pasta + Sauce = A Win Every Time
No matter how you slice it, our better-for-you chicken sausages are built for easy pasta nights. Want a big, sloppy, family-style spaghetti feast? Swap in chunky bites of Italian Herb instead of meatballs. Making fettuccine alfredo? Crumble our Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage in for an instant upgrade.
Our chicken sausage goes anywhere rotisserie chicken goes—which includes all your favorite sauces: marinara, alfredo, cacio e pepe, vodka, pomodoro, carbonara, you name it. Mangia. And please, pass the wine.