One-Pot Italian Sausage Pasta — An EASY comfort food recipe that’s loaded with Italian flavors, ready in 20 minutes, made in ONE pot, and a family favorite!! No need to boil the pasta separately to save time and dishes!!
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.
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One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (I used hot but sweet Italian sausage may be substituted)
- 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, as desired
- 3 to 5 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon oregano, optional
- one 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, I used Hunt's no-salt added, tomato basil oregano flavor
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 cups penne pasta, another small-shaped pasta may be substituted
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅔ to ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil, chiffonaded
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste if desired
Instructions
- To a large skillet at least 4-inches deep or large pot, add the sausage, 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil if desired, and brown sausage over medium high heat. Crumble sausage as it cooks; do not drain.
- Add the garlic, optional oregano, stir, and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant; stir nearly constantly.
- Add the tomatoes, water, pasta, stir, cover the skillet with a lid, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until pasta is al dente and the water has incorporated. Stir once midway through cooking, paying attention to the pasta on the bottom of the skillet so it doesn't stick (this is why I recommend olive oil, even with sausage).
- Turn off the heat, add the sour cream, and stir to combine.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
- Add the basil, pepper if desired (I didn't need to add salt), and stir to combine. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I was looking for an easy pasta recipe with the ingredients I had on hand, and this recipe was perfect. I only had rotini and a 20oz jar of tomato sauce so I used that and reduced the water accordingly (Total ~4.5 cup liquid). The pasta came out PERFECTLY AL DENTE. I added some spinach for some veggies. Thank you for this recipe. It will become a staple in our house.
Made this last night for dinner – absolutely delicious and could not have been simpler. Â I used chicken sausage but followed the remainder of the recipe. Â Will definitely make again.
Made this last night for dinner – absolutely delicious and could not have been simpler. Â I used chicken sausage but followed the remainder of the recipe. Â Will definitely make again.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was absolutely delicious and easy! And that you’ll make it again!
Made this morning for quick easy meal to reheat later. I used gluten free elbow pasta and it’s amazing. Thank you.
I am making this now and a little concerned because it seems to have a lot of liquid and the timer just went off. I followed the directions exactly. Is this normal?
All pasta will absorb slightly different amounts of water, yours probably just didn’t absorb quite as much. I would just boil it a bit longer to boil off the extra water.
I had the same problem. After removing the lid at the 15-minute mark, the pasta was cooked, but there was so much liquid that I had to cook at a rapid simmer without the lid for another 20+ minutes before enough had evaporated. Should the tomatoes have been drained? Is it really 2.5 cups of water for 2 cups of pasta? I did use whole wheat penne for half the pasta, but if anything I would have expected that to absorb more water.
It was easy; it just took a lot longer than expected. The kids ate it without complaining, so that’s a victory! :-)
It is hard to predict just how juicy tomatoes are and the extra liquid that one brand versus another may have but I don’t drain them – I usually buy Trader Joe’s or store brands when possible on canned goods.
Simmering rapidly without the lid was your best bet to evaporate the excess water.
Glad your kids enjoyed it!
i made it yersterday for the dinner .my family it was délicious. thanks you
i made it yersterday for the dinner .my family it was délicious. thanks you
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it was delicious!
Made this morning for quick easy meal to reheat later. I used gluten free elbow pasta and it’s amazing. Thank you.
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad that the GF elbow pasta worked great here!
Hi Averie, I always love to see your new recipes ! I plan to make this, perhaps tonight, with subbing plain yogurt for the sour cream. Sounds yummy!
Hope it turns out great for you!
I doubled this for my family (I have teenage boys) and I used 1 pound of each hot and mild Italian sausage because one of my sons has a low tolerance for heat. I also added a few handfuls of spinach toward the end and it turned out really well, for once everyone agreed that it was delicious. So thank you so much for sharing.
I doubled this for my family (I have teenage boys) and I used 1 pound of each hot and mild Italian sausage because one of my sons has a low tolerance for heat. I also added a few handfuls of spinach toward the end and it turned out really well, for once everyone agreed that it was delicious. So thank you so much for sharing.
I am so glad it was a hit and I can’t imagine doubling this recipe (so much food) but then again I don’t have two teenage boys! :) Glad it was delicious with the two different kinds of sausage!
This looks Awesome! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you.
You’re welcome and hope you get to check it out!
I just made this for the family. This was a really good and quick meal!
I just made this for the family. This was a really good and quick meal!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it turned out great for your family!