16 Easy Healthy Chicken Sausage Recipes - Slender Kitchen (2024)

Do you have a favorite ingredient? Like one you always have in your house and reach for any time you can't figure out what to make. For me, that magical ingredient is Chicken Sausage and today we are sharing all our favorite chicken sausage recipes.

Chicken sausage cooks up in no time, only has between 120-180 calories per link, and comes in so many different flavor combinations there is one that works with pretty much any meal. I love using it in pasta dishes, soups, stir-fries, and more.

What's your favorite way to use chicken sausage?

The other thing I love about chicken sausage is its ability to add flavor to virtually any recipe. Chicken sausage comes with its own built-in spice blend.

Whether you choose a spicy variety, a sweet variety, or one that's flavored with things like spinach, feta, jalapenos, or apples - you are bringing all that flavor to whatever recipe you prepare. That makes recipe prep quick and easy.

Why We Love Cooking with Chicken Sausage

• High in Lean Protein: Chicken sausage is a great way to add lean protein to any meal. Most brands have over 15 grams of protein per serving with significantly less fat than other sausages.
• Versatile: There are so many ways to cook with chicken sausage. It can be pan-fried, grilled, baked, or air-fried. It can be used in pasta dishes, casseroles, sandwiches, soups, sheet pan meals, and stir-fries. Chicken sausage is a recipe staple.
• Affordable:Most chicken sausage costs between $4-7 per package, making it budget-friendly when it comes to lean proteins. Stock up when it's on sale, it freezes great.
• Super flavorful: There are so many different flavors of chicken sausage on the market, that it is almost impossible to get bored. More importantly, you don't have to do anything to chicken sausage for it to taste good. No marinating, no extra sauces, no complicated cooking - it's already packed with flavor.
• Quick and easy: If you buy the precooked chicken sausage links, they cook up in under 10 minutes!

Delicious Chicken Sausage Recipes

Check out these delicious recipes with chicken sausage for pasta, soups, sandwiches, sheet pan meals, and more.

How to Cook Chicken Sausage

There are so many different ways to cook chicken sausage! It is a super versatile protein that can be used in almost any dish.

• Grilled: Preheat grill to medium-high. For raw sausages, grill for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally. For cooked sausages, grill for 6-8minutes until lightly browned and heated through,
• Pan Fried: In a skillet over medium heat, cook raw sausages for 10-12 minutes, turning frequently. Cooked sausages need about 6-8 minutes. Whole links will take longer to cook than slices.
• Baked and Sheet Pan Meals: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place raw sausages in the oven for 20-25 minutes; cooked sausages take about 15 minutes. Sliced sausages will cook more quickly. If you are cooking sausages with vegetables or potatoes (like in a sheet pan meal), choose vegetables that cook in the same range or add the vegetables to the sheet pan during the last 10-15 minutes.
• Broiled: Set oven to broil. Place raw sausages in a broiler pan and broil for 12-15 minutes, turning once. Cooked sausages need 6 minutes.

• Air Fried: For raw sausages, air fry at 360°F for 12-16minutes. For cooked sausages, air fry at the same temperature for 6-8 minutes.
• Soups and Stews: Add sliced raw sausages at the beginning and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Sausage is a great way to add flavor to soups and stews. Pre-cooked sausages can be added at the beginning or in the last 10 minutes.
• Pasta Dishes: For raw sausages, cook in a skillet before slicing and adding to pasta. Pre-cooked sausages can be sliced and heated through in the sauce or cooked with vegetables to be added to the pasta.
• Casseroles: Slice and mix raw or cooked sausages into the casserole, cooking the entire dish thoroughly. If the casserole won't be cooked for a long time, cook raw sausage before adding it to the casserole.

Remember to always ensure chicken sausages reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.

Chicken Sausage Nutritional Information

Chicken sausage is a healthier alternative in the world of processed meats, but just how beneficial is it?

Generally speaking, chicken sausage is lower in calories and fat compared to traditional pork sausage, making it a healthier choice. Let's explore its nutritional profile. (Note: Nutritional values can vary based on the brand and recipe)

Let's explore its nutritional profile. (Note: Nutritional values can vary based on the brands so this is an estimate. Consult your specific brand for more exact information)

• Calories: Relatively low in calories, especially when compared to pork or beef sausages. This makes it a more diet-friendly option. On average, one chicken sausage link has 147 caloriesand a 4 oz serving has 220 calories.
• Protein: Rich in protein, chicken sausage helps in muscle building and repair, crucial for overall health. On average, one chicken sausage link has 18grams of proteinand a 4 oz serving has 27 grams of protein.
• Fat Content: Lower in fat, particularly saturated fat, which is beneficial for heart health and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. On average, one chicken sausage link has 8grams of fat (10% Daily Value)and a 4 oz serving has 11grams of fat (15% Daily Value).
• Sodium: While often lower in sodium than pork sausage, chicken sausage can be very high in sodium depending on the brand. On average, one chicken sausage link has 449 mg (22% Daily Value)and a 4 oz serving has 648.5mgof sodium (33% Daily Value).
• Vitamins and Minerals: Provides essential nutrients like B vitamins, and selenium, essential for energy production and metabolic processes.

Here's a general comparison of pork and chicken sausage to help. Turkey sausage tends to be very similar to chicken sausage, although may be higher in fat.

Our Favorite Chicken Sausage Brands

There are so many brands of chicken sausage, that it can be hard to know which one to choose. Here are some of our favorites.

• Al Fresco Chicken Sausage: I love that these sausages are super easy to find in most markets. They come in delicious flavors like Spinach Feta and Roasted Garlic. They contain no artificial ingredients and are minimally processed.
• Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage: Trader Joe's chicken sausage is affordable, available cooked or raw, and comes in tons of flavor. We love the Spicy Jalapeno, Smoked Andouille, and Chicken Apple Sausage. Whole Foods also makes a great cooked chicken sausage but it is more expensive.
• Aidell's Chicken Sausage:This is another great brand that can be found in most supermarkets and Costco. Their Italian Style Chicken Sausage, Kielbasa, and Chicken and Apple are especially tasty.

• Amy Lu Chicken Sausage: This brand is a little harder to find. It is gluten-free, pork-free, and contains no nitrates. It also tends to be very low in calories. We love the Andouille and Roasted Garlic and Asiago flavors. One other thing I love about Amy Lu sausages is that they come individually wrapped.
• Applegate Chicken Sausage: For organic chicken sausage, Apple Gate is one of the best options around. Their breakfast sausage is a favorite in our house and we also like their Sweet Italian and Fire Roasted Red Pepper sausages.
• Gilbert's Chicken Sausage: Gilbert's Chicken sausages have the best flavors. We love their Caprese, Aloha, and Farmhouse Cheddar sausages. Bonus points since theyare individually wrapped, which I love. They canbe found at Target, Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods.

Side Dishes and Serving Ideas

Depending on what dish you are making, choose a sidedish that complements the flavors. Here are some favorites. All of these pair great with almost any type of chicken sausage.

• Roasted or sauteed vegetables: Chicken sausage is a meal on its own with some roasted or sauteed veggies. You can roast or saute the veggies right with the sausage. We love sausage with pan fried broccoli, roasted cauliflower, or stir-fried vegetables. Or go for the classic combination of sausage, bell peppers, and onions.
• Potatoes and more: Add some easyroasted potatoes, baked skinny fries, or potato wedges on the side for a quick meal. Or serve your sausages over mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower with marinara sauce and veggies.
• Salads and greens: Pan-fry chicken sausages to add protein to any salad for an easy meal. We love adding chicken sausage to this easy lentil salad and Mediterranean bean salad.
• Rice and grains: Make a tasty rice bowl by combining cooked chicken sausage, rice or quinoa, and veggies.

• Pasta: Instead of meatballs or ground beef, add chicken sausage to any type of pasta dish you like. Ground chicken sausage is also great for bolognese and meatballs.
• Sandwiches, rolls, and wraps:Grill or pan fry your sausage and add it to a quick sandwich, sub, or wrap with peppers, onions, and veggies,
• Breakfast: Serve chicken sausage for breakfast with fried eggs, scrambles, hash, frittatas, pancakes, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions our readers have about making recipes with chicken sausage. Have a question? Leave it in the comments and we'll make sure to answer it.