Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
Love cheesy pasta? This Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta is creamy, comforting, and ready in just 20 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to preventing a watery sauce. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Quick and Tasty 10-Minute BBQ Chicken Wrap Recipe and Delicious Strawberry Matcha Latte for a Refreshing Boost.
Why This Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, cheesy sauce that's never watery
- Ready in just 20 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner
- Packed with protein from chicken and sausage
- Better than takeout and perfect for meal prepping
What You'll Need for Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 lb pasta
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces for faster cooking.
- Italian sausage: Use mild or spicy depending on your preference.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Box Grater — Quickly grate cheese for a smooth, creamy sauce. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
- Cook the chicken and sausage: Season chicken and sausage with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer. Gradually add shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Combine and serve: Add cooked chicken, sausage, and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine. Serve hot, topped with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much cheese too fast can cause a watery sauce. Gradually add cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
- Pro tip: Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Pro tip: For a spicy version, use spicy Italian sausage and add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
Storing & Reheating Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the chicken and sausage ahead of time and store in the fridge. Cook the pasta and make the sauce when ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the sausage with sliced mushrooms or bell peppers.
- Best substitution: Heavy cream can be substituted with an equal amount of milk for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: This dish is best made fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality pasta — Better texture and flavor than regular pasta. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 lb pasta
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Italian seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil
- Red pepper flakes
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the chicken and sausage: Season chicken and sausage with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer. Gradually add shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Combine and serve: Add cooked chicken, sausage, and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine. Serve hot, topped with fresh basil, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the sausage with sliced mushrooms or bell peppers.
- Best substitution: Heavy cream can be substituted with an equal amount of milk for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: This dish is best made fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can make the chicken and sausage ahead of time and store in the fridge. Cook the pasta and make the sauce when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 750
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 45g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 180mg
- Sat. Fat: 25g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Adding too much cheese too fast can cause a watery sauce. Gradually add cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
You can make the chicken and sausage ahead of time and store in the fridge. Cook the pasta and make the sauce when ready to serve.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Heavy cream can be substituted with an equal amount of milk for a lighter version.
Gradually add cheese to the sauce and stir until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
