Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout)
Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta is a better-than-takeout, family-favorite comfort meal that’s rich, creamy, and loaded with protein. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to preventing a watery sauce. Plus, it’s perfect for busy weeknights. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Apple Pie Bars and Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice.
Why This Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout) Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, indulgent sauce that's better than takeout
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies
- One-pan meal for quick cleanup
- Freezer-friendly for meal prep
What You'll Need for Creamy 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.
- chicken breasts
- italian sausage
- pasta
- heavy cream
- parmesan cheese
- garlic
- onion
- italian seasoning
- red pepper flakes
- salt
- pepper
- Optional: fresh basil
- Optional: grated parmesan
- Optional: crushed red pepper
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- italian sausage: Use mild or spicy, depending on your preference.
- heavy cream: Substitute with half-and-half for a lighter version.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Box Grater — Effortlessly grate cheese for a creamy sauce. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout)
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sear Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear in a hot skillet until cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In the same skillet, cook Italian sausage until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the skillet, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Stir in flour, then gradually add heavy cream, stirring constantly. Simmer until thickened. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, chicken, and sausage to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout)
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much liquid can make the sauce watery. Fix it by simmering the sauce until it thickens or adding a cornstarch slurry.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add diced jalapeños when cooking the sausage.
- Pro tip: To make this dish gluten-free, substitute gluten-free pasta and use cornstarch instead of flour to thicken the sauce.
Storing & Reheating Creamy 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 for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce and cook the chicken and sausage ahead of time. Combine and cook the pasta just before serving.
Freezing Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout)
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker meal, use leftover cooked chicken and sausage.
- Best substitution: Substitute the Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and cook the chicken and sausage ahead of time. Combine and cook the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more heavy cream or pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Read Meat Thermometer — Ensure perfectly cooked chicken every time. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- italian sausage
- pasta
- heavy cream
- parmesan cheese
Seasonings
- garlic
- onion
- italian seasoning
- red pepper flakes
- salt
- pepper
Optional Toppings
- fresh basil
- grated parmesan
- crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sear Chicken: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear in a hot skillet until cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In the same skillet, cook Italian sausage until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Make Sauce: In the skillet, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Stir in flour, then gradually add heavy cream, stirring constantly. Simmer until thickened. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, chicken, and sausage to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker meal, use leftover cooked chicken and sausage.
- Best substitution: Substitute the Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the sauce and cook the chicken and sausage ahead of time. Combine and cook the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more heavy cream or pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare the sauce and cook the chicken and sausage ahead of time. Combine and cook the pasta just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 700
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 150mg
- Sat. Fat: 18g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Cheesy Chicken and Sausage Pasta (Better Than Takeout) FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the sauce and cook the chicken and sausage ahead of time. Combine and cook the pasta just before serving.
Adding too much liquid can make the sauce watery. Simmer the sauce until it thickens or add a cornstarch slurry to fix it.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
While you can cook the chicken and sausage in the air fryer, the pasta and sauce are best cooked on the stovetop.
Substitute with half-and-half for a lighter version or use a combination of milk and flour to create a roux.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy 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!
