Add this Spicy Sausage and Zucchini Skillet to your weekly rotation immediately. It’s equally easy to make as it is delicious, with a spicy little kick at the end. Aka, prepare to be obsessed.
When I tell you I could eat this every night, it’s no joke. We’ve already had it so many times. It’s just the most comforting and deliciously nourishing meal – all made in one pan! Not sure it gets any better than that.
A SIMPLE, STAPLE SKILLET MEAL
Let me just say that if your vibe in the kitchen is simple, healthy and tasty, then you’re in the right place.
And if you’re a one pan meal lover, then this Spicy Sausage and Zucchini Skillet is definitely a recipe for you. But I mean, who doesn’t love a one pan meal?!
Seriously, it’s so easy. All you have to do is whisk together the sauce, cook and sauté the chicken sausage and veggies (zucchini, bell pepper and onion), and that’s it.
Not to mention the flavor is insane. With a sauce made up of chili crisp, coconut aminos, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, salt + pepper, it’s hard to resist. A quick and delicious, staple meal you don’t want to miss out on.
PROTEIN-PACKED, NUTRIENT-RICH SAUSAGE AND ZUCCHINI
You probably already know I’m big on eating a high-protein diet (while I don’t count my macros, check out THIS blog post where I share how I eat 100+ grams of protein daily).
And this Spicy Sausage and Zucchini Skillet is easily one of those dinners you can come back to when you want to pack in the protein and nutrient-rich veggies, but want something easy and delicious that everyone will enjoy.
All I can say is make sure you stock up on all these yummy ingredients asap! Hope you love it.
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
For the Sauce:
- Coconut aminos
- Chili crisp
- Sesame oil
- Minced ginger
- Minced garlic
- Sea salt
- Ground pepper
For the Skillet:
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 medium zucchini, cut in half moons
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 pound chicken sausage (any variety; I used a pre-seasoned one), or swap with favorite protein
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Ground pepper, to taste
To Serve:
- Cooked rice (option to serve plain/with no rice)
- Additional green onion, to top
HOW TO MAKE MY SPICY SAUSAGE AND ZUCCHINI SKILLET
For the Sauce:
Whisk all sauce ingredients together in a bowl or glass. Set aside.
For the Skillet:
In a medium skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil on medium to high heat to heat for 1 minute.
Add your protein and cook to brown, about 4-5 minutes. Once done, add to a bowl and set aside.
Add the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil to the skillet, then add the veggies to cook on medium heat. Toss veggies until tender, then add back in your protein and the sauce. Toss again and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
Add green onion and toss once more.
To Serve and Store:
Serve plain or over cooked rice of choice with additional, sliced green onions on top. Enjoy!
Skillet leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 – 4 days. If stored separately, rice can also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 – 5 days.
RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS & QUESTIONS
Feel free to swap the sausage for ground turkey, ground chicken or ground beef. Option to add or swap your favorite veggies – any color bell pepper works, and you could also try carrots, broccoli, or mushrooms if you’d like.
Just be sure to make more sauce and/or double the protein depending how many veggies you want to add, or how many people you’re cooking for.
Instead of coconut aminos in the sauce, you could try soy sauce or tamari, but start small so it doesn’t come out too salty or strong. Instead of chili crisp, option to try sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce); but again, be mindful of the amount based on preferred heat level.
As always, find all my kitchen items (and more) linked HERE in my Amazon Storefront. PS: the salt grinder I have linked in there is superior.
ARE THERE MORE SERVING OPTIONS FOR THIS SPICY SAUSAGE AND ZUCCHINI SKILLET?
While you can definitely eat this plain because it tastes that good, you got options! The obvious serving options are to serve over your favorite rice, or riced cauliflower. But another idea is to pair with a potato-based side – like my mashed potatoes or garlic fries – or a salad. Get creative! And let me know anything you try below 🙂
IS CHICKEN SAUSAGE ACTUALLY HEALTHY?
Yes! Chicken sausage can definitely be a healthy option. Sausage made from chicken is a good source of lean protein, and when compared to other meats like a pork or beef sausage, will be lower in fat. I recommend reading labels to make sure you’re ideally buying an organic sausage made with no additives or preservatives.
TRY MORE OF MY TASTY, ONE PAN MEALS:
Cornbread Skillet (Gluten-Free) — technically not a meal, but too good not to include!
Click here to watch the reel I made of this recipe 🙂
Spicy Sausage and Zucchini Skillet
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon chili crisp
- 3/4 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
For the Skillet:
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 2 medium zucchini, cut in half moons
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 pound chicken sausage (any variety; I used a pre-seasoned one), or swap with favorite protein
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Ground pepper, to taste
To Serve:
- Cooked rice, option to serve plain/with no rice
- Additional green onion, to top
Instructions
For the Sauce:
- Whisk all sauce ingredients together in a bowl or glass. Set aside.
For the Skillet:
- In a medium skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil on medium to high heat to heat for 1 minute.
- Add your protein and cook to brown, about 4-5 minutes. Once done, add to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil to the skillet, then add the veggies to cook on medium heat. Toss veggies until tender, then add back in your protein and the sauce. Toss again and cook for about 3-5 minutes.
- Add green onion and toss once more.
To Serve and Store:
- Serve plain or over cooked rice of choice with additional, sliced green onions on top. Enjoy!
- Skillet leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 – 4 days. If stored separately, rice can also be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 – 5 days.