Chicken Zucchini Pasta Skillet (Printable Version)

Savory chicken sausage, tender zucchini, and tomatoes combine with pasta in a simple, one-skillet dinner.

# Ingredients:

→ Proteins

01 - 200 grams Italian style chicken sausages, sliced into discs

→ Vegetables

02 - 150 grams diced onion
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium zucchini (approximately 150 grams), chopped
05 - 150 grams grape tomatoes, halved

→ Pasta and Grains

06 - 200 grams radiatore pasta

→ Liquids & Oils

07 - 15 milliliters olive oil
08 - 500 milliliters low sodium chicken broth
09 - 15 milliliters fresh lemon juice

→ Seasonings & Herbs

10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
11 - 2 grams salt
12 - 10 grams fresh basil leaves, chopped
13 - 30 grams freshly grated Parmesan cheese

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add sliced chicken sausages and diced onions; sauté for 5 minutes until sausages develop a golden crust and onions turn translucent.
02 - Sprinkle salt and crushed red pepper flakes over the sautéed mixture. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
03 - Pour chicken broth into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape the browned bits from the bottom. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a vigorous boil.
04 - Add uncooked radiatore pasta directly to the boiling broth. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and cook for approximately 10 minutes until pasta is nearly tender but still firm.
05 - Stir in chopped zucchini and continue cooking for 3 minutes, allowing zucchini to soften while pasta finishes cooking and broth reduces to a light sauce.
06 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in fresh lemon juice, most of the Parmesan cheese, and halved grape tomatoes. Allow residual heat to gently warm tomatoes without softening them.
07 - Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese and fresh basil over the dish before serving to preserve brightness and aroma.

# Notes:

01 - Reserve a cup of pasta cooking liquid before draining; starchy water helps adjust sauce consistency if needed.
02 - Cooking pasta one minute less than package instructions allows it to finish cooking with vegetables, preventing overcooking.
03 - This dish reheats well; add a splash of broth or water during reheating to maintain sauce texture.

Go Back