Italian Sausage Pasta is an easy one-skillet meal. Make it in 20 minutes with kielbasa and rotini covered in a cheesy, creamy red sauce.
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Italian Sausage Pasta recipe is ready in 20 minutes! An easy one pan meal made with savory smoked sausage, veggies, and rotini simmered in a creamy tomato-based sauce.
Pasta Recipe With Kielbasa
Our easy, one-skillet Italian Sausage Pasta takes a traditional Tuscan sausage pasta dish and prepares it Polish-style!
I love making this Italian pasta recipe with kielbasa as a garlicky Italian pork sausage substitute; its smoky flavor and hearty texture pairs perfectly with the pasta, cheese, and silky red sauce.
No need to boil the noodles in a separate pot or dirty extra dishes because this one pan cheesy kielbasa pasta recipe cooks all the components in a single skillet.
Why We Love Kielbasa Sausage Pasta Recipes
- Quick and easy to make.
- Uses a handful of simple ingredients.
- A one pot dish means clean-up is minimal.
- A complete comfort food meal, packed with protein, vegetables, and carbs.
- Family favorite one dish dinner that’s delicious any day of the week.
Italian Sausage Pasta Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Kielbasa
- Yellow onion
- Red bell pepper
- Minced garlic
- Petite diced tomatoes: Do not drain the liquid.
- Chicken stock: Use low sodium chicken broth or stock if you prefer a less salty sauce.
- Half & half: You can use heavy cream to make your sauce thicker and creamier.
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Rotini pasta
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Green onions
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Additions
- Swap The Sausage: In addition to kielbasa, you can use any kind of smoked sausage for this recipe, like andouille, chorizo, or bratwurst. You can also try a mild or spicy Italian sausage, ground sausage, chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even exchange the sausage for ground beef.
- Pick Your Pasta: You can substitute the rotini (small spiral pasta) for any short pasta in this recipe. I prefer Rotini pasta as it’s perfect for coating with the sauce. Bowtie pasta, penne pasta, or elbow pasta will also work well.
- Vary The Veggies. Feel free to use your favorite veggies such as zucchini, yellow or green bell peppers, mushrooms, and spinach.
- Serve It Spicy: Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies can be used in place of the diced tomatoes if you like a bit of heat. Or sprinkle some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper into the skillet.
- Choose Your Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese will also taste great when stirred into the sauce.
How to Make Italian Sausage Pasta
- Cook The Kielbasa: Cook the kielbasa in oil for 2-3 minutes until brown and crisp around the edges.
- Bring To A Boil: Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the same skillet and cook until the vegetables are soft and translucent. Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, half & half, salt, pepper, and pasta. Stir and bring the liquids to a boil.
- Simmer The Sauce: Simmer for until the liquids have reduced and the pasta is cooked to al dente. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Serve: Sprinkle with green onions before serving. Enjoy!
Tips For Making Italian Sausage Pasta
- This kielbasa and pasta skillet dinner is best served fresh and while it is still warm.
- If you substitute the rotini for another shaped pasta, you will need to adjust your cooking time to ensure that your pasta is cooked to al dente.
- You can substitute the can of petite diced tomatoes in this recipe for a can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. These will add a bit of heat and additional flavor to your pasta with kielbasa.
- While it’s simmering, make sure that you are stirring the pasta often to ensure that it’s getting cooked evenly and not sticking.
What To Serve With Italian Sausage Pasta
This pasta and kielbasa recipe makes a complete meal. You can serve your noodles with a side house salad, garlic green beans, or roasted cauliflower to add some extra nutrients. Complete the meal with some crusty bread and butter and you’ll have a delicious dinner ready in no time!
My Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread, Cauliflower Breadsticks, or Air Fryer Garlic Knots are perfect for sopping up any sauce left sitting on the plate!
How to Store Italian Sausage Pasta
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through. You may need to add a splash of cream, broth, or milk to thin the sauce as it will have thickened in the refrigerator.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
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Italian Sausage Pasta
Serves — 4
Italian Sausage Pasta is an easy one-skillet meal. Make it in 20 minutes with kielbasa and rotini covered in a cheesy, creamy red sauce.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 13 ounces package of kielbasa cut into ¼-inch circles
- ¾ cup diced yellow onion
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 14.5 ounces can of petite diced tomatoes do not drain
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup half & half
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ pound rotini pasta
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a large 12-inch skillet (with 2-3 inch deep sides) on medium-high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the kielbasa circles. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the kielbasa to start to brown and crisp around the edges.2 tablespoons olive oil, 13 ounces package of kielbasa
- Once the kielbasa has started to brown around the edges, add the diced yellow onion, diced red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and translucent.¾ cup diced yellow onion, ¾ cup diced red bell pepper, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Next, add the petite diced tomatoes, chicken stock, half & half, salt, black pepper, and rotini pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine all the ingredients and bring the liquids to a boil.14.5 ounces can of petite diced tomatoes, 2 cups chicken stock, ½ cup half & half, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ pound rotini pasta
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 12-14 minutes or until the liquids have reduced and the pasta is cooked to al dente. Be sure that you are stirring the pasta often to ensure that all the pasta is getting cooked evenly and not sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat to the skillet and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it is melted and the sauce is creamy.1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese
- Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the pasta before serving.2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through. You may need to add a splash of cream, broth, or milk to thin the sauce as it will have thickened in the refrigerator.
- This kielbasa and pasta skillet dinner is best served fresh and while it is still warm.
- If you substitute the rotini for another shaped pasta, you will need to adjust your cooking time to ensure that your pasta is cooked to al dente.
- You can substitute the can of petite diced tomatoes in this recipe for a can of Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies. These will add a bit of heat and additional flavor to your pasta with kielbasa.
- While it’s simmering, make sure that you are stirring the pasta often to ensure that it’s getting cooked evenly and not sticking.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 885kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1707mg | Potassium: 965mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1662IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 409mg | Iron: 4mg
