This Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta is the perfect hearty pasta for busy weeknights when you have incredible flavors with little effort. It’s easily one of my new favorites for an easy dinner, and best of all, this pasta meal is all made in one pan (from browning the sausage to cooking the pasta). Find the full directions on the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

 

Easy Pasta Dishes you’ll love!

If you are looking for easy dinner inspirations, you’ll love these easy weeknight pasta dishes. 

Pumpkin & Sausage Pasta Bake

 Creamy Rosemary & Garlic Pasta

Cheese & Sausage Baked Pasta

Lemon & Rosemary Butter Pasta

Why you’ll love this Spicy Sausage Pasta recipe

• Perfect weeknight meal. Clean-up is a breeze since this simple meal is all made in a large pan.

• The first time I made this Spicy Sausage Pasta recipe I removed the sausage out of the Italian sausage links, but you can buy ground Italian sausage meat at the grocery store, which is a huge time saver.

• It comes together pretty quickly, so this easy pasta dish is a great idea for an easy weeknight kind of dinner. You have a delicious meal ready on the table quickly! The whole thing is ready in less than 30 minutes, and you have perfectly cooked al dente pasta without even cooking it in pasta water.

• Cheesy pasta dishes are my ultimate comfort food, and this easy recipe with spicy flavors is such a fantastic alternative to a tomato sauce-based pasta dish.

• This recipe is very customizable when it comes to protein. Don’t eat pork sausage? Replace with chicken sausage or even vegan alternatives! You even modify the heat by choosing either mild sausage or spicy!

Spicy Sausage Pasta Ingredients

• 225 g of hot Italian sausage or chorizo

• 1 tbsp of olive oil

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 2 cups of chicken stock

• 1/3 cup of water

• 2 cups of penne pasta, or any similar shape works!

• 1/4 cup of sun dried tomatoes, chopped

• pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

• pinch of salt and black pepper, to taste

• grated parmesan cheese, for garnish

How to make Spicy Sausage Pasta

1. Using an oven-safe skillet or deep frying pan, heat the oil a little bit on medium heat and add the sausage. Cook for a couple of minutes until browned, then remove the sausage mixture from the pan and set aside.

2. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion to the large skillet on medium high heat. Sauté onion and garlic until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside with the sausage.

3. Carefully pour in the chicken broth and using a wooden spoon, stir to release the browned bits at the bottom of the pan.

4. Add the sun dried tomatoes, uncooked pasta, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Give it a few good stirs to get the pasta covered in the mixture.

5. On medium-high heat, bring the broth mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover, then reduce to low heat. We are going to let the pasta cook until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Keep stirring every few minutes.

6. At the end of the cooking time, remove the cover and stir again. Depending on the pasta, if the liquid has been absorbed but not al dente yet, add in the 1/3 cup of water. Turn heat to medium and cook uncovered until the pasta is cooked al dente and the liquid has been absorbed, checking every 1-2 minutes.

7. Return the cooked sausage, and onion mixture to the tender pasta mixture and mix a little bit.

Garnish with parmesan or romano cheese and fresh basil (optional).

What to serve alongside Italian Sausage Pasta

Since this dish is pretty hearty as it, I love serving this with a quick side salad. Great options would be this Orange Grilled Halloumi and Kale Salad or this decadent Butternut Squash and Arugula Salad. 

 

How can I store One Pot Spicy Sausage Pasta? 

This easy pasta dish makes for the best leftovers the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze for up to three months in freezer-safe containers. 

FAQ’s and Variations…

• You can use any kind of smaller type of pasta, like penne, macaroni or campanelle pasta. You can even use pasta shells! You might just have to adjust the cooking time to package directions. If the package instructions indicate that it takes longer than 10 minutes to cook, you might need to simmer longer and add more water at Step 6.

• Love fresh spinach in your pasta dishes? Add a handful of baby spinach at Step 5!

• Make it cheesy! Add 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese or mozzarella before serving.

• Prefer a creamy sauce in your pasta dishes? Make a creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with minor changes, like replacing 1/3 of water with heavy cream or coconut cream for a sundried tomato cream sauce. You can even add cream cheese too.

• Use your favourite savory sausage! This recipe is just as delicious with turkey sausage, smoked sausage, sweet Italian sausage, mild italian sausage or andouille sausage.