A creamy pesto pasta with chicken sausage and fresh vegetables using orecchiette pasta.
Once upon a time in a far away land, I had all the time in the world to wander the aisles and racks of my favorite stores. I could window shop and dream to my heart’s content, it was bliss. This week I took the time to bask in that experience again but my wandering was in the condiment and pasta aisles of Target. It was delightful. Who would have thought I found it fun to shop among food. But being a food blogger has brought out this side of me.
During my wanders this time I picked up a box of orecchiette pasta. I had never cooked with orecchiette pasta before and thought I would try it out. I think you will be happy with my choice because it brought about this creation of orecchiette with chicken sausage and asparagus. It is a yummy and colorful pasta dish.
Did you know orecchiette means “little ears”?
Is there another pasta you would like to see either Aimee or I try out for you?
Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Asparagus
Ingredients
- 6 oz pasta (cooked)
- 2 chicken apple sausage* (fully cooked)
- 20 spears asparagus (washed, trimmed, and broken into 2 inch pieces)
- 1 cup green peas (thawed)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Cook the orecchiette pasta according to directions on the packaging
- In a saute pan add the olive oil and warm over medium low heat
- Saute your minced garlic in the olive oil
- Slice your chicken sausage into 1/2 inch pieces and add to the olive oil and brown
- Add your asparagus and peas to the garlic and sausage and saute into cooked throughout, just a few minutes
- Drain your pasta
- Add to the saute pan the pasta and basil pesto sauce, stir all together to coat everything with the basil pesto sauce
- Mix in 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese and let it melt and coat the pasta mixture
- Remove from heat and just before serving sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over your orecchiette pasta and chicken sausage
Notes
Enjoy this delicious pasta meal with orecchiette noodles!
Cheryl says
December 18, 2016 at 2:54 PMHave made several times using fresh green beans instead of asparagus. Make sure you use a very good pesto or make it fresh. Delicious combination but no way does this serve 8 people, maybe 8 children but not adults! Serves 2 people at most, fyi.
Aimee Berrett says
December 18, 2016 at 4:00 PMHi Cheryl, so glad you’ve liked the dish! I edited the servings to say 2-4 since it calls for 6oz of pasta and technically 2oz is a serving size. I’ll definitely have to try it with green beans next time, yum!
Ashley says
March 12, 2015 at 2:45 PMtrying this tonight! sounds amazing!
Natalie says
November 6, 2014 at 2:22 PMThis sounds so yummy! I’ve never used orecchiette either, but it looks like a great choice for this dish, and I love pesto! Thanks for sharing your recipe!