One Pot Sausage Pasta (Printable)
Hearty pasta with sausage, peppers, and zucchini in creamy tomato sauce
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed and crumbled
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 zucchini, diced
→ Pasta & Liquids
06 - 10 oz penne or rigatoni pasta, uncooked
07 - 3 cups chicken broth
08 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Dairy
10 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - ½ cup heavy cream
→ Spices & Herbs
12 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs blend
13 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
15 - Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the crumbled sausage and cook for 4–5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned.
02 - Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until translucent. Stir in the garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini; cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to develop flavor.
04 - Add the uncooked pasta, chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Stir well, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything cooks together so the pasta absorbs all those savory sausage flavors while you basically do nothing else
- Only one pot to wash means you can actually relax after dinner instead of facing a sink full of dishes
02 -
- The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so remove it from the stove while there's still a bit of sauce visible in the pan
- Using a deep skillet or Dutch oven is crucial because the pasta expands and bubbles up more than you expect while cooking
03 -
- Reserve some pasta water before adding the cream in case you need to thin the sauce later
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens slightly and clings better to the pasta