Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet

This Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet is a sweet and savory one-pan meal, which features the famous Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages paired with caramelized sweet potatoes and kale. It’s a healthy 20-minute dinner, ready in no time.

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Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet Ingredients

• 1 package (12 oz) Trader Joe’s Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages (4 sausages)
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 large apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and diced
• 3 cups chopped kale (stems removed) or baby spinach
• 1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped (or ½ tsp dried)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (optional, to deglaze)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional, for serving)

How To Make Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet

1. Prep the ingredients: Slice the pre-cooked chicken sausages into ½-inch thick coins. Peel and dice the sweet potato into small, uniform ½-inch pieces (this ensures they cook quickly). Chop the onion, apple, and kale.
2. Brown the sausage: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage coins in a single layer. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side until they are nicely browned and caramelized. Remove the sausage to a plate.
3. Cook the potatoes: Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Add the diced sweet potatoes. Stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium, cover the pan with a lid (or foil), and cook for 5–7 minutes. The steam helps the potatoes soften quickly.
4. Add aromatics: Remove the lid. The potatoes should be starting to soften. Add the chopped red onion, garlic powder, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Sauté uncovered for another 5 minutes until the onions are soft and the potatoes are golden brown and fork-tender.
5. Add apples and kale: Stir in the diced fresh apple and the chopped kale. Cook for 2–3 minutes. You want the kale to wilt and the apples to warm through but stay slightly crisp, not turn to mush.
6. Combine: Return the browned sausage coins to the pan. Toss everything together to heat through.
7. Finish: Drizzle with the apple cider vinegar (if using) and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor.
8. Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, optionally drizzled with a little Dijon mustard for a zesty contrast.

Recipe Tips

• Potato size: The key to this being a “20-minute meal” is cutting the sweet potatoes small. If you cut large chunks, they will take 20 minutes just to cook through.
• Sausage Flavor: While designed for the Sweet Apple variety, this recipe works great with the Smoked Apple Chardonnay sausages too. The sweetness of the sausage caramelizes beautifully in the pan.
• Don’t peel the apple: Leave the skin on the fresh apple. It adds color, texture, and prevents the apple pieces from disintegrating into sauce.
• Greens: Kale is preferred because it holds its texture well, but if using spinach, add it at the very last minute as it wilts instantly.

What To Serve With Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet

This is a complete meal, but can be extended.

• Fried Egg: Place a sunny-side-up egg on top for breakfast-for-dinner.
• Quinoa: Serve over a bed of quinoa or farro for extra grains.
• Mustard: A side of grainy mustard is the perfect condiment.
• Goat Cheese: Crumbled goat cheese on top adds a creamy tang.

How To Store Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. This creates excellent meal prep lunches.
• Reheat: Microwave for 2 minutes or reheat in a skillet to re-crisp the potatoes.
• Freeze: Freezing is not recommended as the texture of the apples and potatoes will become soft and mushy.

Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 360kcal
• Protein: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fat: 18g
• Saturates: 4g
• Sugar: 12g
• Salt: 0.8g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 4 servings).

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