Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Kale
on Sep 16, 2025
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This pasta with chicken sausage and kale is a hearty, flavor-packed dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s the perfect weeknight meal, featuring savory sausage, tender greens, and pasta all tossed together in a dish that feels both comforting and fresh.
This pasta with chicken sausage and kale feels like a thoughtful dinner, even if you just pulled it together at the last minute. A short ingredient list, minimal prep, and a pot of pasta that‘s ready in about half an hour. The chicken sausage brings a savory kick, the kale adds an earthy balance (and a sense of virtue), and the whole thing comes together in a way that’s both hearty and surprisingly light. This is exactly the kind of weeknight dinner I turn to when I want something fast, comforting, and guaranteed to satisfy the unruly masses.
I found that getting my kids to eat kale became a whole lot easier when I paired it up with sausage—funny how life works that way.
What's In This Post?
Ingredients
- Chicken sausage – There are lots of chicken sausage options, and it’s fun to experiment with different varieties in this pasta. I’ve made this with plain ground chicken sausage, and also chicken sausage flavored with various herbs and spices, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Change up the sausage, and change up the dish.
- Kale – There are lots of varieties of kale available, especially once those farmers’ markets get into full swing. I love the lacinato variety—the bumpy dinosaur-like leaves are very easy to handle as well. But the curlier types work just as well. Just make sure to cut out and toss those tough middle stems
- Pasta – I went with campanelle in this recipe, but any chunky, short pasta will work.
- Shallots
- Black olives – Try other types of olives as well!
- Chicken broth – Use less-sodium chicken broth if possible so you can control the dish’s salt.
How to Make Chicken Sausage and Pasta
- Cook the pasta: Follow the package directions and cook the pasta in generously salted boiling water. Drain well.
- Sauté the chicken and aromatics: While the pasta cooks, sauté the shallots in a large skillet until soft. Add sausage, crumbling it up as it brows, then add the kale and cook until it’s wilted. Finish off with olives, chicken broth, and season, bringing it all to a simmer.
- Toss and serve: Return the pasta to its pot and add the sausage and kale mixture. Stir well and serve.
What to Serve With Chicken Sausage Pasta and Kale
Chicken Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- 1 pound campenelle (or other chunky short pasta)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large shallots (thinly sliced)
- 1 pounds chicken sausage (spicy or sweet or a combination; removed from its casing)
- 4 cups chopped kale leaves
- ⅓ cup chopped black olives
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Salt the water generously and let it return to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook accordingly to package directions, stirring occasionally.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and sauté for 2 minutes until they start to soften. Add the sausage and sauté, breaking up the sausage with a spoon as it cooks, until it is browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally until the kale wilts, about 5 minutes more. Add the olives, chicken broth, season with salt and pepper to taste, and bring to a simmer
- Drain the cooked pasta and return it to the pot. Add the sausage and kale mixture to the pot and stir to combine. Serve hot.
This looks delicious and is very similar to pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. The pasta featured in the photo is not campanelle, it is gemelli. ;-)