Sausage and Pasta

Content… What Kind of Pasta? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Notes Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Super Easy Pasta Recipes You’ll Love Watch How to Make It

What Kind of Pasta for Italian Sausage Pasta?

The truth is that you can use whatever you have in the pantry. My preference is penne pasta because it isn’t as messy as spaghetti. Noodles are another one of my favorites, fettuccini topping the list.

Corkscrew pasta is another style that holds onto the sauce like a pro. But, hey, use what you love; no stress here.

Ingredient List

1. Pasta – The delicious base for this pasta dish that calms hunger and makes the family happy.
2. Cooking Oils – You can’t beat the Mediterranean vibes of olive oil and butter. The flavor is incredibly delicious.
3. Sausage – Italian sausage (mild or hot) is the meaty, spicy protein that makes this dish so mouthwateringly good.
4. Flavor – Onions, thyme, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and garlic turn anything bland into pure excitement.
5. Sauce – Tomato paste, fresh Roma tomatoes (better for sauce because they’re not overly juicy), bell peppers, and chicken broth make a classic sauce.
6. Garnish – Fresh basil leaves make a gorgeous garnish. But serving pesto on the side also works great.

How to Make Sausage & Pasta

Prep Ingredients

• Pasta – Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. It should be slightly undercooked and firm because you’ll heat it again when assembling. Drain the pasta, reserving two cups of the water. Set aside.
• Sausage – Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Place the sausage in the pan and brown on both sides, moving and turning them over regularly so they brown evenly (2-4 minutes). (Photos 1-2)
• Simmer – Gently pour about ⅓ cup of the reserved pasta water into the skillet to prevent the sausage from sticking to the pan and burning. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until almost cooked through. The sausage will finish cooking with the pasta.
• Slice – Remove the sausage from the pan, put it on a cutting board, and slice it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• Prep Pan – Drain excess liquid from the frying pan and reserve it with the sausage. Dry the pan.
• Seasonings – Melt the butter. Add the onions, thyme, Creole seasoning, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes. Sprinkle with a little salt and sauté for 2-3 minutes. (Photo 3-4)
• Sauce – Add garlic and tomato paste, and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. (Photo 5-6)
• Tomatoes – Toss in the diced tomatoes and continue cooking. Add a tiny bit of water if the pan gets too dry. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. (Photos 7-8)

Assembly

• Sausage – Return the sausage and its juice to the skillet, followed by the bell pepper. (Photos 9-12)
• Sauce – Add the broth and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked and the sauce thickens. Lightly season with salt and pepper. (Photo 13)
• Pasta – Add the pasta and mix well so every bit of pasta is coated with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. (Photo 14)
• Garnish the pasta with basil (or baby spinach) and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

1. Top the pasta with grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
2. Portabello mushrooms are a delicious addition or meat replacer. I like to throw in about ½ a cup of sliced baby Bellas when I saute the onions. Then, continue with the recipe.
3. Add a cup of heavy cream for creamy sausage pasta.
4. Smoked sausage and pasta is amazing. And since the sausage is already cooked, just slice it and add it when assembling to heat through. Andouille sausage and Kielbasa are both incredibly delicious.
5. Add leftover cooked chicken for easy chicken and sausage pasta.
6. If your sauce is a little sour, add ½ teaspoon sugar to calm it down and make it less acidic.
7. A dash of red wine is impressive in the sauce. Add it right after the tomatoes.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

This recipe is even more awesome the next day. If you want to make it for a holiday meal and save yourself some hassle the day of, you can make it the night before. Reheat it slowly in a large pot, adding a splash or two of chicken broth if it’s too dry.

Yes, you can freeze it. Store it in an airtight freezer container for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight and heat it in a saucepan when ready. If it’s too dry, add a little chicken broth.

What to Pair With Sausage and Pasta

Fresh homemade bread, either no-knead bread or melt-in-your-mouth garlic knot bread and Greek salad, are what I usually serve. A nice glass of white wine is also quite welcome.

More Super Easy Pasta Recipes to Love

1. Fettuccine Alfredo – The creamy Alfredo sauce made with cream and cheese (does it get any better?) over buttery fettuccine is my idea of a super-easy date night dinner.
2. Blackened Shrimp & Pasta – I love seafood, but you already know that. Spicy shrimp with spaghetti makes the whole family jump for joy.
3. Chicken Pasta Bake – Talk about easy! Creamy and cheesy sauce, pasta, and juicy chicken coming fresh out of the oven is my idea of perfect comfort food.
4. Rasta Pasta – Jamaican seasoning gives this impressive dish a tropical flair. Add cream, and it just got 100 times better.

Watch How to Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”hRfAcubo” upload-date=”2021-08-11T18:59:59.000Z” name=”Sausage and Pasta” description=”Sausage and Pasta is one of my quick and easy standby meals. The intensely flavored and filling recipe is the perfect choice for a weeknight dinner. Tasty pieces of spicy Italian sausage smothered in a tomato sauce with the perfect blend of seasonings over penne pasta presents a healthy and comforting meal. You’ll relish each mouthful of this easy recipe.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]

This blog post was originally published in August 2021 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video