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8 Easy Weeknight Dinners with Chicken Sausage

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor
Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.
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published Nov 29, 2022
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Credit: Maria Siriano

One thing I always keep stashed in my fridge: a pack (or two) of chicken sausage. I consider it my in-case-of-emergency dinner solution. May I suggest you do the same? Partnered with a few items from the pantry or the freezer, it’s a super-handy ingredient for easy weeknight dinners. It also comes in a ton of different flavors — spicy andouille, Italian herb, apple-chardonnay, and pesto, to name a few.

To get you started, here are 8 easy and delicious ways to turn a pack chicken sausage into dinner, from one-skillet and one-pan meals to soups, stews, and sandwiches.

1. Broccolini, Chicken Sausage, and Orzo Skillet

You can to pull this simple skillet together even faster if you swap the Broccolini with frozen broccoli florets and stir them in at the end of cooking.

Get the recipe: Broccolini, Chicken Sausage, and Orzo Skillet

Credit: Joe Lingeman

2. 5-Ingredient Sausage, Kale, and Sweet Potato Soup

Go ahead and make a double batch of this hearty, Whole30-friendly soup. It freezes wonderfully and your future self will thank you when the next busy week rolls around.

Get the recipe: 5-Ingredient Sausage, Kale, and Sweet Potato Soup

Credit: Joe Lingeman

3. Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Chicken Sausage

The beauty of chicken sausage is that since it’s already cooked, it just needs to be heated through. Slicing the links into rounds speeds up the process and gives you all those irresistible crispy edges.

Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Chicken Sausage

Credit: Joe Lingeman

4. Sauerkraut and Sausage Roll

Here’s your solution when you really really don’t want to cook. Just don’t skimp on the spicy mustard and tangy kraut.

Get the recipe: Sauerkraut and Sausage Roll

Credit: Joe Lingeman

5. Slow Cooker Sausage and Lentil Stew

While any variety of chicken sausage will work in this dump dinner, I love using andouille-style. It’s packed with a little heat and lots of flavor and is an easy way to jazz up lentils.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sausage and Lentil Stew

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: CC Buckley/Kitchn

6. Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies

Pull out whatever’s in your crisper: All veggies are fair game with this sheet pan dinner.

Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies

Credit: Joe Lingeman

7. Weeknight Orzo Paella

This twist on the Spanish classic leans on pantry staples to make an orzo-based paella that’s totally doable during the week.

Get the recipe: Weeknight Orzo Paella

Credit: Faith Durand

8. Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes

Four ingredients and about 15 minutes is all it takes to get this family favorite on the table. The recipe calls for nine ounces of chicken sausage, but I can tell you from experience that you won’t regret tossing in the whole 12-ounce pack.

Get the recipe: Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes

This post was originally published on Kitchn. Read it there: 8 Easy Weeknight Dinners with Chicken Sausage