Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

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Savory, satisfying, and loaded with the flavors of fall. Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner is the perfect supper for a cozy autumn evening. So good! And only one pan to wash!

The Best Sweater Weather Meal

There are some dinners that practically beg you to put on a sweater, light a fire in the fireplace, and sit down at the table for a hearty meal.

This Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner is one of them.

It’s got all the elements you want in a cozy fall supper: sweet roasted delicata squash, savory chicken apple sausage, caramelized red onion, crisp-tart Granny Smith apple, and plenty of fresh, fragrant sage.

And because everything roasts together on one pan, cleanup is crazy easy. If all dinners came together this easily, we might retire our pots permanently.

But what really makes this dinner so terrific is the fabulous, fall-flavored ingredients.

What Goes Into Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

Why Delicata Squash Is a Fall Favorite (No Peeling Required!)

Let’s start with the star of the show: delicata squash. I have several recipes focused on delicata squash. I love it so much that I grew two delicata plants in my garden this year, and for two good reasons.

First, it’s just delicious. It’s got a sweet, slightly nutty flavor and an almost decadently creamy texture.

Another plus, the skin is so delicate (thus the name delicata) that you don’t need to peel it. Once it’s roasted, the skin is tender and perfectly edible. So prep is super simple; just cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and slice it into half-moons.

Choosing the Right Sausage

Delicata squash pairs beautifully with the savory-sweet chicken apple sausage. The Granny Smith apple adds just the right amount of tartness, while the red onion becomes soft and caramelized around the edges. Add sage, and suddenly your kitchen smells like you’ve been cooking all afternoon—even though you really haven’t.

You could use just about any sausage here – even regular pork sausage or Kielbasa. But I prefer to use Aidells Chicken Apple Sausage.

It’s a little lighter and healthier than regular sausage, and the apple in it echoes the fresh apple in the pan. I leave them whole to roast on top of the veggies and apple. They’ll brown beautifully while releasing some of their savory juices into the vegetables.

Another plus to leaving the sausage whole is you’ll know exactly how much a serving is per person.

The Simple Mustard and Brown Sugar Glaze

You could just oven roast everything with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper if you wanted. But I decided to gild the lily by adding a simple mustard and brown sugar glaze to the veggies.

The mustard adds a subtle tang to the dish, while the brown sugar adds just a touch of sweetness and helps everything caramelize during cooking.

How to Make Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

Ease of preparation and clean-up is what makes sheet pan dinners so popular.

For this one, you’ll just place squash, onion, apple, and chopped sage in a big bowl. Then you’ll whisk the three-ingredient mustard glaze together and pour it over the squash mixture. Next, give it a good stir so everything gets coated with the glaze.

Cover a big rimmed baking sheet – the biggest you have – with foil. Then add olive oil and spread it over the foil. I use my hand for this to make sure the oil spreads on every part so the squash mixture doesn’t stick during roasting.

Next, you’ll grind fresh ground pepper over the veggies and sprinkle with a little salt. Place the sausages on top of the squash and apple mixture.

Roast in the oven for about twenty-five minutes and dinner is served!

Of course, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can serve it with a simple green salad and maybe some crusty bread.

But with sausage, veggies, apple, and a little healthy olive oil, it’s a complete meal in itself. I serve it straight from the sheet pan and all on its own. And that’s fine.

Why Sheet Pan Dinners Are Perfect for Busy Weeknights

The beauty of a sheet pan dinner is that ambition is entirely optional.

This is the kind of meal that’s perfect for the first chilly evening of fall. It’s colorful, comforting, easy enough for a weeknight, and full of the flavors that make autumn so appealing.

And when dinner is over? One pan to wash.

There’s no better kind of fall cooking. Give Delicata Squash and Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner a try this week!