My kids know I love a one-skillet supper – they’re simple to make, convenient to serve, and always comforting. This chicken sausage and apples recipe is the perfect one-pan meal for busy weeknights. It’s full of sweet-savory flavors the whole family will love, plus there’s minimal prep and almost no cleanup.
Juicy chicken sausage and sweet apples make this a comforting fall-inspired dinner that works year-round. Plus, it’s super easy to customize with different flavors, which our family does all the time. If you like this easy, one-pan recipe, try these other 30-minute main courses. Our unstuffed bell pepper skillet or 20-minute sausage and potato skillet are two other regular recipes on the dinner rotation.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ready in 25 minutes: With an easy process and a handful of simple ingredients, this sweet-savory meal comes together in under half an hour.
- One-skillet meal: Everything is cooked in one pan, which is super convenient, and there’s minimal cleanup afterwards.
- Sweet and savory flavors: Savory sausage, sweet apples, and tangy Dijon give this dish the perfect balance and symphony of flavors.
- Customizable: This recipe is super easy to customize with different veggies or proteins, so you can use whatever your family prefers.
Tips for Busy Cooks
When shopping for chicken sausage, buy the fully-cooked variety. They come in so many different and delicious flavors, and they’re beyond convenient to have on hand for quick, easy weeknight dinners. Use them in pastas, skillet dinners, or simply served on toasted buns with sautéed peppers and onions for a tasty meal the whole family enjoys.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Olive Oil or Butter – Added flavor to help with the browning of the sausage.
- Chicken Sausage – We like the smoky and rich flavor, but experiment with whatever your family likes.
- Onion: Savory and aromatic, and delicious when they start to slightly caramelize.
- Apples: Adds the perfect sweetness and texture.
- Salt and Pepper: Important to always season as you go.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds tang and a little heat. A must with sausage and apples!
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Just a splash to deglaze the plan. White wine vinegar works, too.
- Brown Sugar or Honey: Another sweet note.
- Cinnamon: Warm and spiced, pairs well with the other flavors.
- Apple Cider or Chicken Broth: To create a rich, savory sauce.
- Baby Spinach or Kale: I like to boost the health factor and add in greens for my kids when I can.
How to make one-skillet chicken sausage and apples
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil (or butter). Let it warm for about 30 seconds until melted.
Add sausage in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
In the same skillet, add onions and apple slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and apples are golden and caramelized.
Add a splash of apple cider or broth if the pan looks dry.
Stir in Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar (or honey), and cinnamon. Add apple cider or chicken broth and stir well. Let simmer for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
Add the browned sausage back to the skillet and stir to coat. Cook another 2–3 minutes until heated through.
If desired, stir in baby spinach or kale until wilted.
Taste and adjust seasonings — add more salt, pepper, or vinegar to balance flavor.
Serve warm as-is or over rice, mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread.
Expert Tips:
- Pick your apples. The best apples to use for skillet cooking are sweet, crisp apples that hold their shape and also have nice flavor, like Fuji, Honey Crisp, or Pink Lady. Braeburn and Granny Smith are also good choices, on the tarter side.
- Avoid overcooking the apples: Add them towards the end of cooking, to prevent them from becoming mushy. Avoid overcooking them; you want them to have a little bite.
- Balance sweet and savory: Use sweet apples, like Honey Crisp, Fuji or Pink Lady. And savory-flavored sausage, like roasted garlic, Italian-style or even apple-flavored (just note: the apple varieties are on the sweeter side). Try maple syrup instead of brown sugar for a different sweetness, too.
- Make it heartier: Serve this over rice, quinoa or potatoes to bulk this up. You can also add a splash of cream or spoonful of cream cheese to the sausage mixture to add richness.
- Try different proteins: Chicken sausage is delicious, but try regular pork sausage, pulled rotisserie chicken, or even turkey sausage for new flavors.
What to serve with chicken sausage and apples
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water to refresh. This will keep the sausage and apples from drying out.
We don’t recommend freezing this dish, as the texture of the apples and wilted greens could change and become mushy after thawing.
FAQs
Chicken sausage, turkey sausage, pork sausage, or even chorizo works here. Savory flavors, like roasted garlic, Italian-style, Andouille or jalapeno cheddar compliment the sweet apples nicely. You can use apple-flavored varieties too, for an extra sweet taste, but just note those can caramelize much quicker due to the sugar content, so keep an eye on them when cooking.
Definitely. Any firm, crisp apples that hold up while cooking, and don’t become mushy, work well. Fuji, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn, Gala and Granny Smith are delicious options, varying from sweet to tart.
Absolutely. Enjoying this dish right after cooking is best, but this recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready it’s ready to serve at a later time, if needed. Just be sure to add a splash of cider or broth when reheating on the stove.
More easy chicken dinner recipes
Chicken Sausage and Apples (One-Skillet)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 12 oz fully cooked chicken sausage about 4 links, sliced into 1” thick pieces
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 2 medium apples Honeycrisp or Fuji, cored and thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard optional
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup apple cider or chicken broth
- 2 cups baby spinach or kale optional
Instructions
- Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat and add olive oil (or butter). Let it warm for about 30 seconds, until it melts.
- Add sausage in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring, until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add onions and apple slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and apples are golden and caramelized.
- Add a splash of apple cider or broth if the pan looks dry.
- Stir in Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar (or honey), and cinnamon.
- Add apple cider or chicken broth and stir well. Let simmer for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Add the browned sausage back to the skillet and stir to coat. Cook another 2–3 minutes until heated through. If desired, stir in baby spinach or kale until wilted.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Add more salt, pepper, or vinegar to balance flavor. Serve warm as is, over rice or mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread.
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Notes
– Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
– Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of broth or water to refresh.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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