From the Kitchen of Chelsea Lords

Dinner in a Flash: My Air Fryer Revelation!

Like many, I initially hesitated to get an air fryer, worried it would just become another countertop clutter. Oh, how wrong I was! This appliance has become an indispensable part of my kitchen, earning its permanent spot on the counter. It’s a game-changer for quick veggie sides, crispy snacks, and now, even full meals.

Today, I’m thrilled to share one of my latest air fryer obsessions: a super-speedy Chicken Sausage and Veggies dish that consistently comes together in 30 minutes or less. The magic truly lies in a few smart shortcuts from the grocery store and, of course, the star of the show – a phenomenal homemade honey mustard sauce that ties everything together beautifully. This recipe proves that healthy, delicious, and fast can coexist harmoniously in your kitchen!

The Secret to Our Signature Honey Mustard Sauce

While the air fryer works its magic on the chicken sausage and vegetables, the real flavor hero of this dish is the quick and easy honey mustard sauce. This creamy, tangy, and subtly sweet dressing transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal. Making it at home ensures the freshest taste and allows you to customize it to your preference. Here are my top tips for crafting the perfect honey mustard sauce:

• Quality Mayonnaise is Key: For an undeniably rich and creamy texture, always opt for real, full-fat mayonnaise. The difference in taste and consistency is noticeable. My personal favorite, and one I highly recommend for its superb quality, is Hellmann’s/Best Foods®. This choice isn’t sponsored; it’s simply a testament to its consistent deliciousness.
• Embrace Yellow Mustard: You might expect Dijon mustard in a sophisticated honey mustard, but for this specific sauce, trust the process and reach for yellow mustard. Its milder, slightly tangier profile perfectly complements the other ingredients, creating a nostalgic yet elevated flavor that truly works.
• Sweetness to Your Liking: Honey is a flexible ingredient. Depending on your preference for sweetness, you can adjust the amount. Start with 1 tablespoon and gradually add up to 3 tablespoons, tasting as you go, until you achieve your ideal balance of sweet and tangy.
• Prepare Ahead for Peak Flavor: This sauce is a fantastic candidate for meal prepping. It can be made in advance and actually tastes even better after it’s had some time to chill in the fridge, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Whip it up earlier in the day or at the beginning of your week, store it in an airtight container, and it will remain fresh for up to a week. Just give it a quick stir before drizzling generously over your Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies bowls. This small step ensures dinner prep is even faster!

Mastering the Air Fryer: Tips & An Oven Alternative

The air fryer is a game-changer for achieving crispy textures with minimal oil and maximum efficiency. It’s the star appliance for this recipe, ensuring your chicken sausage and vegetables are perfectly cooked and slightly caramelized. I personally use and highly recommend this Air Fryer (affiliate link) for its consistent results. Keep in mind that air fryer models can vary, so you might need to slightly adjust cooking times based on your specific appliance.

For those who don’t yet own an air fryer, or simply prefer using a conventional oven, you can still enjoy this delicious recipe. The oven method yields equally fantastic results, just with slightly longer cooking times.

Here’s how to prepare this Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies in your oven:

1. Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a large, sturdy sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. First Roast – Carrots: Toss the baby carrots with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of your chosen seasoning blend, and half of the salt and pepper. Spread them evenly on the prepared sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes. After this initial roast, remove the pan from the oven and use a spatula to toss the carrots, ensuring even cooking.
3. Add Remaining Ingredients: To the same sheet pan, add the sliced chicken sausage, chopped broccoli florets, the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, remaining 1 tablespoon of seasoning blend, and the rest of the salt and pepper. Toss all the ingredients together with the partially roasted carrots until everything is well coated.
4. Final Bake: Return the sheet pan to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the broccoli is crisp-tender, the chicken sausage is lightly browned, and all vegetables are roasted to your desired tenderness and doneness. Keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.

Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies: Ingredient Spotlight

This recipe shines with its simplicity and flexibility, relying on a few key ingredients that come together harmoniously. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and how to make the most of each component:

• Effortless Seasoning Blends: Ditch the need for countless spice jars. A good quality seasoning blend is your best friend for convenience and consistent flavor. I often reach for a garlic & herb blend or a flavorful veggie rub. Both impart incredible depth of flavor. Even a simple blend of salt and pepper works wonderfully, allowing the honey mustard sauce to truly shine. Feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend.
• Smoked Sausage Variety: The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability with protein. Any fully cooked smoked sausage will fit right in. While Aidells® chicken & apple sausage is a personal favorite for its delightful flavor and texture, smoked turkey sausage is also an excellent lighter alternative that performs beautifully. Ensure it’s pre-cooked to keep the preparation time minimal.
• Pre-Cut Veggies for Ultimate Convenience: For an even quicker prep, don’t hesitate to grab pre-cut broccoli florets from the grocery store. Just a quick check to trim down any overly large pieces ensures even cooking in the air fryer. This small hack shaves off valuable minutes when you’re rushing to get dinner on the table. You can also use other quick-cooking vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini.

Perfect Pairings: Serving Your Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies

To create a complete and satisfying meal, the air-fried chicken sausage and vegetables are best served over a nutritious base. My go-to combination for this dish is a comforting bed of mixed greens and quinoa, which adds both texture and essential nutrients.

For maximum speed and convenience, I highly recommend utilizing pre-cooked quinoa packets. These microwave-friendly packets are a revelation for busy cooks, heating through in a mere 90 seconds. We’ve tried and enjoyed these particular ones for their quality and ease. Simply warm them up and divide evenly among your serving bowls.

To complete the foundation, add a generous handful of fresh mixed greens to each bowl. The crispness of the lettuce provides a wonderful contrast to the warm sausage and vegetables, while also boosting the meal’s nutritional content. With these simple additions, the “sides” for your Chicken Sausage and Veggies meal are complete and ready in no time!

Other Serving Suggestions: Feel free to customize your base. Brown rice, couscous, or even cauliflower rice can be great alternatives to quinoa. For a lighter, low-carb option, consider serving the sausage and veggies over zucchini noodles or additional steamed greens.

Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies

By
Chelsea Lords

This Honey Mustard Chicken Sausage and Veggies recipe is quick, nutritious, and incredibly delicious! Toss chicken sausage, carrots, and broccoli with herbs, then air fry to perfection. Serve this delightful mix over quinoa and fresh greens, all generously drizzled with a zesty homemade honey mustard sauce. The entire meal comes together in just 30 minutes! No air fryer? Don’t worry, detailed oven instructions are provided in the blog post above.

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

20 minutes

Total Time:

30 minutes

Servings:

4 servings

Equipment

• Small blender
• Air fryer or oven (see blog post for instructions)

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) bag baby carrots
• 4 cups chopped broccoli florets
• 1 (12-ounce) package chicken and apple sausage coined (sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds), see Note 1
• 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons garlic and herb seasoning divided, see Note 2
• 2 cups cooked quinoa see Note 3
• spring mix lettuce blend for serving

For the Honey Mustard Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayo full-fat, Hellmann’s recommended
• 3 tablespoons yellow mustard not Dijon
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

1. Prepare the Honey Mustard Sauce: In a small blender, combine all the sauce ingredients: mayonnaise, yellow mustard, honey, and red wine vinegar. Add 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, or season to taste. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings or honey to your personal preference. Transfer the finished sauce to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate it. Chilling allows the flavors to deepen and meld beautifully.
2. Air Fry Carrots First: Begin by preheating your air fryer. Set it to 400°F (200°C) and let it run empty for 3 minutes. While it preheats, in a large bowl, toss the baby carrots with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of the herb mix, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. Once preheated, carefully add the seasoned carrots to the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spread in a single layer as much as possible. Air fry for 10 minutes. After this time, remove the basket and give it a good shake to stir the carrots, then return them to air fry for an additional 4 minutes.
3. Add Sausage and Broccoli: While the carrots are cooking, use the same bowl to prepare the rest of your ingredients. Add the chopped broccoli florets and coined (1/2-inch thick) chicken sausage. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of herb mix, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Toss everything together until well coated. Once the carrots have completed their 14 minutes of cooking, add the seasoned sausage and broccoli directly on top of the carrots in the air fryer basket. There’s no need to stir or mix them in at this point. Air fry for another 7–10 minutes, or until the broccoli is crisp-tender and the chicken sausage is lightly browned and heated through. Cooking times may vary depending on your specific air fryer model, so keep an eye on the doneness.
4. Assemble and Serve: To assemble your delicious bowls, divide the cooked quinoa evenly among 4 serving bowls (approximately 1/2 cup per bowl). Top each portion of quinoa with a generous handful of fresh mixed greens. Next, spoon equal parts of the hot, air-fried chicken sausage and vegetable mix over the greens. Finish by drizzling a generous amount of your chilled honey mustard sauce over each bowl. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Note 1 – Smoked Sausage Options: This recipe is highly adaptable when it comes to the sausage. Any fully cooked smoked sausage will work wonderfully. My personal favorite for its delicious flavor and texture is Aidells chicken and apple sausage. Smoked turkey sausage is also an excellent choice, offering a slightly lighter profile without compromising on flavor.

Note 2 – Seasoning Blends for Flavor: For ease and impactful flavor, I love using a good seasoning blend. Consider a garlic and herb seasoning blend or a versatile veggie rub. Both are hugely popular and ensure delicious results. If you don’t have a specific blend, a simple combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a touch of dried Italian herbs, along with salt and pepper, will also work beautifully.

Note 3 – Quick Quinoa Option: To maintain the “30-minute meal” promise, leveraging pre-cooked quinoa packets is a fantastic shortcut. These convenient packets (like these ones I often use) heat up in just 90 seconds in the microwave, saving you significant cooking time.

Nutrition Note: The provided nutritional information is for the chicken sausage and vegetables, and honey mustard sauce components only. It does not include the quinoa or mixed salad greens, which would add to the overall nutritional values.

Storage Tips: For any delicious leftovers, store the cooked chicken sausage and vegetables, and the quinoa in separate airtight containers. Keep the honey mustard sauce in its own small container. All components can be safely refrigerated for up to 3 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat the sausage and veggies in the microwave or briefly on the stovetop until warmed through. Add fresh greens and sauce before serving for the best experience.

Nutrition Facts (Approximate)

Serving: 1serving
|

Calories: 446kcal
|

Carbohydrates: 25g
|

Protein: 8g
|

Fat: 37g
|

Saturated Fat: 6g
|

Trans Fat: 1g
|

Cholesterol: 13mg
|

Sodium: 397mg
|

Potassium: 777mg
|

Fiber: 7g
|

Sugar: 13g
|

Vitamin A: 1537IU
|

Vitamin C: 211mg
|

Calcium: 121mg
|

Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is an approximation. It does not include quinoa or salad greens.