Italian Sausage Penne Pasta Recipe
I am a huge pan of one-pot recipes, meaning you cook the protein and the pasta in the same pot, and you don’t need to drain any pasta water later. It makes life so much simpler and obviously doing dishes is a breeze with just one pot. This family-friendly comfort food recipe is ready in 20 minutes and is sure to be a hit with everyone. The al dente penne pasta with flavorful sausage, juicy tomatoes, the creamy-cheesy factor from the sour cream and Parmesan, along with the fresh basil was a total winner for my daughter. She immediately gave this one-pot recipe a 10 out of 1o.
What’s in Italian Sausage Pasta?
To make this one-pot sausage pasta recipe, you’ll need:
Italian sausage Olive oil Garlic Oregano Canned petite diced tomatoes Water Penne pasta Sour cream Parmesan cheese Fresh basil
How to Make Italian Sausage Pasta
Simply brown Italian sausage, add garlic, a can of diced tomatoes, dry uncooked pasta, water, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the water is all soaked in. Then add sour cream (for creaminess) and fresh Parmesan cheese (for cheesiness) before stirring in fresh basil. It’s a match made in heaven!
What Type of Italian Sausage Should I Use?
I used one pound of hot Italian sausage in links so I needed to remove the casings. If you can find one pound of your favorite brand of sausage without casings, it makes things even faster. The hot Italian sausage adds the perfect pop of spiciness without being too hot or spicy but if you or your family are more sensitive to spicy foods, then I recommend sweet Italian sausage instead. Whether you make spicy sausage pasta or sweet Italian sausage pasta, this recipe is bound to be a hit!
What Type of Pasta Should I Use?
I used penne, but any small-shaped pasta will work such as rotini, bowtie, small shells, or wheels. I don’t recommend using a long, thin pasta like spaghetti for this recipe.
Tips for Making Italian Sausage and Pasta
Do NOT cook the pasta before adding it to the skillet. It cooks in the same skillet with the tomatoes, sausage and water and soaks up so much more flavor that way. Stir the pasta once midway through cooking, paying attention to the pasta on the bottom of the skillet so it doesn’t stick. Don’t stir it too frequently. You might not need to add any additional salt to the pasta. Remember that the sausage, tomatoes, and Parmesan are already salted. Give the pasta a taste after it’s cooked before seasoning it.
MoreSausage Dinner Recipes:
ALL OF MY SAUSAGE RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy Lasagna Soup— This easy, 30-minute lasagna soup gives you all the rich flavor of your favorite lasagna minus the work. Hearty and comforting, but not as heavy as lasagna!
Italian Sausage and Peppers Skillet — This easy one-skillet recipe combines Italian sausage and peppers with sweet Vidalia onions and rice to make a quick dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes!
Easy 30-Minute One-Skillet Lasagna – Everything cooks in one skillet and you don’t even need to boil the noodles separately!! Full of classic lasagna flavor but so much faster and easier! Now you can make lasagna on busy weeknights!!
Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables — If you’re looking for an easy dinner and a way to mix things up from your usual chicken and vegetables this is the ticket and cleanup is a breeze.
Eggs in Hell with Italian Sausage — Shakshuka (aka Eggs in Hell) is an easy dish made of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce. It’s so simple to make and can be prepped for breakfast, brunch, or dinner!
30-Minute Italian Sausage, Vegetable, and Rice Soup – EASY, hearty soup that’s full of flavor from the sausage, rice, and vegetables!
Eggs, Sausage, and Hash Browns Skillet — Drippy eggs, juicy sausage meatballs, tender hash browns, sweet Vidalia onions, a hint of garlic, and crisp-tender bell peppers all cook together in one skillet and it’s ready in 30 minutes.
