If you’re craving a dinner that feels like a big, warm hug but won’t have you scrubbing pots all night, the Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet is your new weeknight hero. Imagine juicy rounds of savory chicken sausage, nestled with sweet sun-dried tomatoes, bright spinach, and a swirl of luscious cream sauce—all made in a single pan in just about half an hour. Each bite brings together bold flavors, velvety textures, and vibrant pops of color. Whether you ladle it over rice, spoon it atop pasta, or just scoop it up with a good slice of bread, this one-pan wonder will earn a regular spot on your table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet lies in its simple but thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Every item in the lineup adds something special, from the pop of sun-dried tomato to the silky finish of cream—let’s break it down so you can see just how much character each brings to the dish.
- Olive oil: Just a splash is all you need to get that golden sizzle going and keep everything from sticking.
- Chicken sausage (12 oz, sliced): Choose a flavor you love—smoked, Italian, or even something with a hint of apple works beautifully here.
- Yellow onion (1 small, diced): Adds mild sweetness and a bit of aromatic magic.
- Garlic (2 cloves, minced): Because almost every great skillet dinner starts with garlic—fragrant and utterly irresistible.
- Sun-dried tomatoes (1/2 cup, drained and chopped): These bring a hit of tangy sweetness and chewy texture that plays off the creamy sauce.
- Italian seasoning (1 teaspoon): A short-cut blend that brings herbal balance to all the richness.
- Red pepper flakes (1/4 teaspoon, optional): Toss in a pinch if you like a gentle, lingering heat.
- Chicken broth (1 cup): This deglazes the pan and infuses every bite with deep, savory flavor.
- Heavy cream (1/2 cup): Delivers the velvety texture that makes Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet so crave-worthy.
- Baby spinach (2 cups): Wilts beautifully into the sauce, adding pop and color without overpowering the dish.
- Grated Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup): For that irresistible salty richness that ties it all together.
- Salt and black pepper: Always taste and adjust so every bite is just right for your crew.
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish): Not only for color—it wakes up all the flavors perfectly at the end.
How to Make Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet
Step 1: Brown the Chicken Sausage
Start by heating up a large skillet over medium heat and drizzling in the olive oil. When the oil is shimmering, toss in the sliced chicken sausage. Give them about 3 or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, so they get those irresistible golden edges. Browning the sausage is what gives the Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet its incredible depth, so don’t rush this step.
Step 2: Sauté Onion
Add the diced yellow onion straight into the skillet with the sausage. Let it sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes—a little patience here rewards you with tender, sweet onion that forms a flavorful backbone for the whole dish.
Step 3: Build the Aromatics
Sprinkle in the minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you’re feeling zesty. Stir everything together for about a minute, just until you catch a waft of those gorgeous aromas. This step turns the ordinary into something special!
Step 4: Simmer with Broth and Cream
Pour in the chicken broth and use your spoon to gently scrape up any flavorful bits clinging to the bottom of the pan—these are gold! Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat and swirl in the heavy cream. Let it all bubble softly for 3 to 4 minutes—the sauce will start to thicken and become deliciously glossy.
Step 5: Add Spinach and Parmesan
Fold in the baby spinach and watch it wilt down in just a minute or two. Now sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts into the sauce. Taste and adjust the salt and black pepper, making sure every bite of your Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet is perfectly seasoned and utterly delicious.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Once you’ve turned off the heat, top things off with a generous shower of fresh parsley if you’ve got some handy. Serve up this skillet sensation straight out of the pan, or dish it over pasta, rice, or even a fluffy pile of mashed potatoes for a heartier meal.
How to Serve Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet
Garnishes
Fresh parsley isn’t just for looks—it brightens each spoonful and brings out the vibrant flavors. If you’re feeling indulgent, a little extra grated Parmesan on top turns every serving into pure comfort food bliss.
Side Dishes
The Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet is versatile enough to play well with all sorts of sides! Our go-to favorites? Piping hot, buttered noodles, fluffy white rice, or rustic mashed potatoes to soak up all that luxurious sauce. But don’t overlook a hunk of crusty bread to mop up every last drop.
Creative Ways to Present
To impress guests, serve your Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet in wide, shallow bowls with the sauce pooled at the bottom and sausage coins artfully arranged on top. Or, for a fun family-style meal, bring the skillet straight to the table and let everyone help themselves, garnishing as they go—dinnertime doesn’t get more inviting.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet keeps beautifully! Once cooled, transfer leftovers to an airtight container and pop it in the refrigerator. The flavors only deepen and meld overnight, so leftovers are something you might actually fight over at lunch.
Freezing
This skillet meal can be frozen, though keep in mind the creamy sauce may change texture slightly after thawing. For best results, cool completely and freeze in a tightly-sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, place the Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet in a saucepan over low to medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to help loosen the sauce. Stir occasionally until heated through—this brings the cozy, creamy magic back to life in minutes.
FAQs
Can I use a different type Main Course
Absolutely! While chicken sausage keeps it light and lean, feel free to swap in turkey or pork sausage if that’s what you have. Just look for fully cooked varieties for the quickest results.
What’s the best way to make it gluten-free?
Double-check that your chicken sausage and chicken broth are certified gluten-free. Serve over gluten-free pasta or rice, and you’ve got a dish everyone can enjoy.
Can I add more veggies to this skillet?
Definitely! Mushrooms, bell peppers, or even zucchini work beautifully. Sauté extra veggies right after the onions, and let them soften before adding the aromatics.
How spicy does the red pepper make it?
The red pepper flakes add a gentle background warmth, but the dish stays mild. Want more heat? Add an extra pinch, or leave it out for a completely mild Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet.
Is there a dairy-free alternative for the cream?
You can substitute with full-fat coconut milk or a dairy-free unsweetened creamer. The sauce won’t be quite as rich, but it will still be silky, and the flavors of the sausage and sun-dried tomatoes shine through.
Final Thoughts
There’s just something so soul-satisfying about snuggling up to a big bowl of Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet—especially when it’s this easy and rewarding. I hope you’ll give it a try the next time you want a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal without the hassle. Trust me, this one’s worth putting in your regular rotation!
Print
Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
This Creamy Chicken Sausage Skillet is a delicious one-pan meal that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Tender chicken sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach are simmered in a creamy Parmesan sauce, creating a flavorful dish that can be served on its own or over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces chicken sausage (sliced into rounds)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
- Cook sausage: Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook until lightly browned.
- Add onion: Add diced onion and cook until softened.
- Combine ingredients: Stir in garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Add liquids: Pour in chicken broth and simmer, then reduce heat and stir in heavy cream.
- Finish dish: Add spinach, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Cook until spinach wilts and cheese melts.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- You can use any variety of fully cooked chicken sausage (smoked, Italian, or apple-flavored).
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
- Add cooked pasta directly to the skillet for a one-pan meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 790 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
