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Balsamic Pasta – A delightful blend of sautéed veggies and chicken sausage tossed in tangy balsamic. This dish is quick, flavorful, and endlessly customizable, perfect for busy weeknights.
Some recipes just speak to you, and this one had me running to the kitchen in excitement. This Balsamic Pasta features a medley of sautéed veggies and chicken sausage, coated in the punchy flavor of luscious balsamic, and it’s the epitome of a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner.
It’s become a staple in my household for its irresistible flavor. Balsamic holds a special place in my heart, and incorporating it into pasta felt like a stroke of genius. Plus, I knew this pasta would be a winner with dishes like Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork with Polenta and Avocado Cream already in my rotation.
Adding chicken sausage gives the dish a satisfying heartiness while keeping things light and nutritious. What’s more, you can customize it with your favorite veggies—I’m partial to zucchini and red onion, but feel free to get creative!
Why You’ll Love This Balsamic Pasta
- Minimal Cleanup – With just one skillet needed to cook the entire dish, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of cleanup, allowing you to spend less time washing dishes and more time relaxing after dinner.
- Make-Ahead Convenience – Benefit from the make-ahead potential of this recipe, allowing you to prep components in advance or even enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day, saving you time and effort during busy weekdays.
- Dietary Flexibility – Cater to various dietary preferences and restrictions by easily adjusting the ingredients to accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free diets.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Pasta – Short-cut pasta, like penne or fusilli, works best for this recipe because its smaller size allows you to get a perfect balance of chicken sausage and veggies in every delicious bite.
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Dried Oregano
- Garlic
- Chicken Sausage
- Sauteed Veggies – Mix and match based on your preferences or whatever vegetables you have on hand.
- Parmesan Cheese (Optional) – Omit for a dairy-free dish.
How To Make Balsamic Pasta
- Prepare the vinaigrette. Whisk together vinegar, oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a large serving bowl.
- Saute the chicken sausage and veggies. In a large skillet, cook chicken sausage and vegetables until crisp-tender and sausage is heated through, about 10 minutes. Then, season with salt and pepper.
- Combine with pasta. Add cooked and drained pasta to the serving bowl with the vinaigrette. Top with sautéed veggies and sausage. Stir to coat everything evenly.
- Serve. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Customize Your Veggies. Experiment with different vegetables based on personal preferences or what’s in season. Bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, spinach, kale, broccoli, asparagus, or snap peas are great options.
- Try Different Protein. Swap chicken sausage for Italian sausage, ground turkey, or tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Add Fresh Herbs. Enhance the flavor profile by incorporating fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or thyme.
- Get Cheesy! Besides Parmesan, experiment with other cheese options like feta, goat cheese, or shredded mozzarella for added creaminess and flavor.
- Incorporate Nuts. For extra crunch and nuttiness, sprinkle toasted pine nuts, sliced almonds, or chopped walnuts over the finished pasta.
- Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze. Before serving, drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the plated pasta for an extra burst of tangy sweetness.
Yes, feel free to use your favorite pasta shape, but shorter cuts like penne, fusilli, or farfalle capture the sauce and ingredients in every bite. You can use a whole wheat, or protein pasta, or just about any type you like!
Absolutely! Simply omit the chicken sausage or replace it with meatless alternatives like plant-based sausage, tofu, or extra veggies for a delicious vegetarian version.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this balsamic pasta will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying leftovers. It is also great served cold, so you can reheat or just enjoy the leftovers straight from the fridge.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Beef Macaroni Soup
- Crockpot Cube Steak
- Fajita Wraps
- Mexican Shredded Beef
- Taco Stuffed Shells
- Air Fryer Salmon
Balsamic Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz short cut pasta
- 3 links chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups sauteed veggies, zucchini, onion, etc.
Balsamic Sauce
- 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Parmesan Cheese, optional garnish.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
- In a large serving bowl combine all of the ingredients for the balsamic sauce whisk to combine.
- In a large skillet sauté the chicken sausage and the veggies together, until crisp tender, and the sausage is heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Add the cooked pasta to the serving bowl with the vinaigrette at the bottom. Top with the sausage and veggie mixture. Stir to combine, and make sure everything is evenly coated.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How great to have a family favorite like this that you can reach for often! Love the combo of meat and veggies 🙂
This looks like an amazing idea for a quick and easy dinner.
This sounds so yummy and I just love the flavor of balsamic vinegar!
This is such a wonderful recipe for a busy evening. I love the flavor balsamic vinegar adds.
I absolutely love this! I made it with some beef last night, and the family devoured it.
Balsamic and pasta go together perfectly!!
Love this pasta dish! So simple ingredients yet it turned out really really good!
This was fantastic! The balsamic reduction added such a rich, tangy depth to the pasta. It’s a simple yet elegant dish that I’ll definitely be making again.
The Balsamic Pasta was a delightful surprise! I was a bit skeptical about the balsamic vinegar not overpowering the dish, but the balance was spot on.