Italian Sausage Pasta

5 from 3 votes

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 Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: (approximately 1½ cup) servings

Calories: 885kcal

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

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.

Tips:

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.