Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage Recipe

This Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage Bake is a rustic and healthy sheet pan meal, which features savory Italian chicken sausage and roasted cherry tomatoes. It’s a simple 30-minute dinner, ready in no time.

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Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage Ingredients

• 1 package (12 oz) Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage (or Roasted Garlic flavor)
• 2 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
• 1 large red onion, cut into wedges
• 2 cups broccoli florets (optional)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

How To Make Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage

1. Preheat: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
2. Prep the sausage: Slice the pre-cooked Italian chicken sausages into ½-inch thick coins. (Slicing on a diagonal gives them more surface area to caramelize).
3. Prep the veggies: Chop the zucchini, red bell pepper, and red onion into uniform chunks. Leave the cherry tomatoes whole (they will burst and create a sauce).
4. Season: Place the sausage coins and all the vegetables onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with the dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
5. Toss and spread: Use your hands to toss everything together until the vegetables and sausage are evenly coated in the oil and spices. Spread them out into a single layer. Do not crowd the pan; use two pans if necessary to ensure roasting rather than steaming.
6. Roast: Bake for 20–25 minutes.
7. Stir halfway: Halfway through the cooking time (at the 10-minute mark), give the vegetables a stir or shake the pan to ensure even browning.
8. Finish: The dish is done when the vegetables are tender, the tomatoes have burst, and the sausage coins are browned on the edges.
9. Serve: Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with fresh basil and plenty of grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, perhaps over pasta or quinoa.

Recipe Tips

• Burst Tomatoes: Leaving the cherry tomatoes whole is the secret. As they roast, they burst, releasing their sweet juices which mix with the olive oil and spices to create a natural, light sauce for the rest of the dish.
• Sausage flavor: The “Italian” chicken sausage usually contains fennel and herbs. It is mild. If you want more punch, add extra fennel seeds or red pepper flakes to the pan.
• Uniform chopping: Try to cut the zucchini, peppers, and onions into roughly the same size (bite-sized) so they cook at the same rate. Broccoli takes a little less time, so you can add it halfway through if you prefer it crunchy.
• Carb options: This is a low-carb meal on its own. To bulk it up, serve it over penne pasta, farro, or polenta.

What To Serve With Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage

• Polenta: Creamy soft polenta is a classic Italian pairing.
• Pasta: Toss the roasted mix with cooked rotini.
• Garlic Bread: To soak up the tomato juices.
• Caesar Salad: A crisp side.

How To Store Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage

• Refrigerate: Store in meal prep containers for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Microwave for 2 minutes or sauté quickly in a pan.
• Freeze: Freezing roasted zucchini/tomatoes can result in a mushy texture upon thawing, so it is best eaten fresh or from the fridge.

Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausage Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 310kcal
• Protein: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 14g
• Fat: 22g
• Saturates: 5g
• Sugar: 6g
• Salt: 0.9g

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

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