Lemon Sausage Pasta
Lemon Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
For the Sausage and Pasta
- 24 ounces smoked chicken sausage, such as Aidells Roasted Garlic & Gruyere Cheese, about 2 packs
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, from a jar
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 5 ounces fresh spinach, about 2 large handfuls
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
For Serving
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 2
Slice the smoked chicken sausages into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Arrange the sausage rounds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Bake the sausages in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until they are nicely browned and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 400
- 4
With about 20 minutes remaining on the sausage baking time, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the skillet with the garlic, olive oil, and butter. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has completely wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Once the sausages are done baking, carefully transfer them from the baking sheet into the skillet with the spinach mixture.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add the cooked and drained orecchiette pasta to the skillet. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Add the 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and stir well to combine all ingredients and create a light sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Drizzle with an additional tablespoon of olive oil, if desired, for extra richness and shine. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Serve immediately in bowls, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Lemon Sausage Pasta
For the Sausage and Pasta
- 24 ounces smoked chicken sausage, such as Aidells Roasted Garlic & Gruyere Cheese, about 2 packs
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic, from a jar
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 5 ounces fresh spinach, about 2 large handfuls
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
For Serving
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 2
Slice the smoked chicken sausages into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Arrange the sausage rounds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Bake the sausages in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until they are nicely browned and slightly crispy.
⏱️ 40 min•🌡️ 400 - 4
With about 20 minutes remaining on the sausage baking time, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the skillet with the garlic, olive oil, and butter. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has completely wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Once the sausages are done baking, carefully transfer them from the baking sheet into the skillet with the spinach mixture.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add the cooked and drained orecchiette pasta to the skillet. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Add the 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and stir well to combine all ingredients and create a light sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Drizzle with an additional tablespoon of olive oil, if desired, for extra richness and shine. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Serve immediately in bowls, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
⏱️ 1 min