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–+ servings
overhead view of apple chicken sausage skillet with a wooden spoon.
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Apple Chicken Sausage Skillet Recipe

This one-pan apple chicken sausage skillet is a quick, cozy dinner with juicy sausage, sweet-tart apples, caramelized onions, kale, and fresh herbs!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 256kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 6 pre-cooked chicken sausage links sliced into ½-inch thick coins*
  • ½ large onion sliced
  • ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning **
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 medium apples cut into thin slices***
  • 2½ cups chopped fresh kale optional****
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ⅓ cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • chopped fresh rosemary or thyme, optional, for serving

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium high heat. Add in the chicken sausage and sauté until browned on the outside. Transfer to a plate.
    2 tablespoons olive oil, 6 pre-cooked chicken sausage links
    sauteeing chicken sausage in a skillet.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add in the onions, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes until softened and slightly browned.
    ½ large onion, ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
    sauteeing onions in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Stir in the apples, kale, and garlic.
    2 medium apples, 2½ cups chopped fresh kale, 2 cloves garlic
    sliced apples and kale in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and apple cider vinegar, and let the mixture simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the apples are soft and the kale is wilted.
    ⅓ cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    pouring chicken broth over sliced apples and kale in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the sausage back to the pan and stir to combine.
    dumping sliced chicken sausage into an apple, kale, onion skillet.
  • Finish with a sprinkling of fresh herbs and serve as is or with mashed potatoes or rice.
    chopped fresh rosemary
    overhead view of apple chicken sausage skillet.

Notes

*I like applewood smoked, sweet apple, or onion and cheddar, but any flavor will work.
**If you don't have poultry seasoning, sub ¼ teaspoon sage, ⅛ teaspoon thyme, and ⅛ teaspoon marjoram.
***I used Honeycrisp, but Granny Smith, Jonagold, Cortland, Gala, or Fuji all work well.
****Kale is classic here, but spinach, Swiss chard, or even cabbage can work if that’s what you have.
Tips:
  • Since the chicken sausage is already cooked, we're just trying to get nice browning on the exposed edges. We don't want to overcook it.
  • Slice the apples evenly so they all cook at the same rate.
  • When you add the broth and vinegar, scrape up any browned bits from the pan--those little bits add big flavor.
  • This skillet is hearty enough on its own, but it’s also amazing served over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles to soak up the sauce.
  • If you want to bulk it up, toss in diced potatoes, broccoli florets, or sliced Brussels sprouts at the beginning (before onions) and cook until golden.
Make-Ahead: You can slice the onions and apples earlier in the day and store them in the fridge so the skillet comes together even faster at dinnertime. If prepping ahead, toss sliced apples in a little lemon juice to keep them fresh.
Storage: Store this apple chicken sausage skillet in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 977mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1212IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg