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Italian Sausage Pasta A Zesty 20 Minute One-Pot Dinner

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Italian sausage pasta is one of the quickest penne pasta recipes that you’ll find. You mix it, cook it, and serve it in less than 20 minutes. And if that’s not enough to make this one of your favorite pasta with Italian sausage recipes,  you only have one skillet to clean. The ingredients are bare minimum although the one-pot dinner is loaded with flavor. The hot Italian sausage is spicy and the diced tomatoes and sauce infuse the penne pasta with a delightful piquancy. You won’t be able to stop nibbling on the delicious pasta. This is comfort food at its best! Ease and taste, it doesn’t get better than this. Give it a try, we promise you’ll be completely satisfied. 😊 

For this recipe, you will need hot Italian pork sausage, onion, Diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and tomatoes, tomato sauce, penne pasta, water, Parmesan cheese. 

 

Close up of tomato and sausage covered penne pasta in a white bowl with basil leaves sprinkled on top.

First Published: April 19, 2018… Last Updated: May 28, 2019

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One pot Italian sausage pasta the importance of the meat

This is a simple one pot dinner dish that relies solely on the quality of the ingredients. The most important ingredient is the sausage. Did you think I was going to say pasta? Well, a good quality penne pasta is second in importance.  It’s the hot Italian pork sausage that gives this easy recipe its amazing taste.

Can you substitute with another type of meat?

You could, but then you wouldn’t have Italian sausage pasta or the fabulous seasoning that comes with that meat.

A good alternate that we’ve found is the spicy seasoned Italian chicken sausage. That would be excellent in this recipe.

If you or your family don’t like spicy food you could get a milder Italian sausage and it would still be good. We bought our sausage in bulk — you could buy the links and remove the casing.

The penne for a one-pot pasta recipe

We used imported Italian penne pasta for this recipe. Again, it’s the quality of the ingredients that makes the recipe so delicious. 

The ingredients in the pasta. 

  • What wheat the pasta maker uses makes a big difference. At your favorite grocery store, look at the ingredients that are printed on the pasta boxes. The pasta we used had only two ingredients — organic durum wheat semolina and water.
  • The water that the pasta maker uses is also important. Our brand takes pure mountain spring water that produces a fine dough. You don’t want any “off” tastes coming from the water.
  • Another old world practice that the artisan pasta makers use is to extrude the dough through bronze dies to create a rough texture.

Why you want a rough texture on your pasta:

  • cooks to al dente every time.
  • holds the sauce beautifully.

Here’s a good place to learn a little bit more about the history of pasta.

Penne pasta covered with tomato sauce and Italian sausage chunks with a sprinkle of Flat-leaf parsley

The tomatoes for the pasta with the Italian sausage 

If you start with quality seasoned canned tomatoes and a good brand tomato sauce you’re recipe will be a success.

The ingredients already have salt in them so we didn’t find it necessary to add any more.

We did add a pinch of hot pepper flakes just because. 🌶😉 The pasta really didn’t need it, we just like it spicy.

Once we had all the ingredients together, the dish cooked up quickly! This is one meal that will become a regular at our house. I wish our kids and grandkids would have been around to taste it. 😋

And speaking of tasting, Honey said he had to do some quality control once I was done with the one-pot Italian Sausage Pasta. But I don’t think he had to do it five times, do you? In fact, I had to remove the temptation away from him or we wouldn’t have had dinner that evening. 😂

A large white rectangular plate filled with Italian sausage tomato pasta sprinkled with green flat leaf parsley. White platter is on a black and tan speckled marble.

The final ingredient – parmesan cheese

Once the pasta absorbs all of the liquid and it turns into a yummy sauce, the one-pot dinner is done.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the penne pasta recipe and stir in.

That’s it! You’re done!

You can make it ahead of time — the dish tastes great reheated.

I made this recipe early in the afternoon and I reheated it later that evening. It tasted just as good as when I first made it. Nope, not just as, it was even better!

We hope you make this one pot recipe. We can guarantee that it’ll become a favorite. Just keep the simple ingredients in your pantry, well not the sausage, but the rest and you’ll always be able to whip up a delicious dish at a moments notice.

More simple recipes to make in no time

These recipes are easy to make and perfect weeknight dishes!

 

Tutti a tavola è pronto! 😃

Un caro saluto, e alla prossima.

FOR THIS RECIPE YOU MAY NEED:

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This brand of penne pasta is similar to the one we use. Spending a bit more for pasta makes such a difference. The pasta is exactly like it should be, al dente and holding the delicious sauce and sausage. This order comes in 5 – 1 pound packages. At the time we only bought a 1-pound package. Do you have a favorite brand? 

 

A closeup of Italian sausage penne pasta in a white bowl with a sprinkle of fresh peppercorns and green basil leaves.

Italian Sausage Pasta A Zesty 20 Minute One-Pot Dinner

Every now and then you come across a recipe that is not only easy but also tastes like you spent hours preparing it. Common ingredients will give you a one-skillet penne pasta dinner that will become a family favorite. You can make this ahead of time. Just warm it in the oven and serve. Just add a salad and some fresh bread to the meal and you have an incredible one pot dinner with little effort.

If you like this recipe, please consider giving it a 5-star rating. 

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A closeup of Italian sausage penne pasta in a white bowl with a sprinkle of fresh peppercorns and green basil leaves.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA A ZESTY 20 MINUTE ONE-POT DINNER

An easy one-skillet penne pasta dish that comes together in less than 20 minutes. Spicy sausage flavors the tasty tomato sauce and penne pasta. A quick and easy dish that can be prepared ahead of time and then warmed before serving. 
5 from 31 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Resting: 2 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 531kcal
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 lb Hot Italian pork sausage broken into pieces
  • 1/2 onion minced
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes Seasoned with basil, garlic, oregano, undrained
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 8 oz penne pasta uncooked
  • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add broken sausage and minced onion; cook about 5 minutes. With a wooden spoon keep the sausage in pieces. Drain and return to skillet. 
  • Add the undrained tomatoes, sauce, water, red pepper flakes, and penne pasta to the pan. Stir to combine and bring the liquid to a boil. Cover the pan and reduce the heat. 
  • Cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with more parmesan cheese, if desired. 

Nutrition

Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1117mg | Potassium: 753mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 10.3% | Vitamin C: 18.7% | Calcium: 13.7% | Iron: 18.6%

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Comments

  3. Jolina says

    May 29, 2019 at 11:16 pm


    One pan and ready in less than an hour. Hard to beat that! And it looks so delicious too. We always have Italian sausage on hand so this is perfect.

    Reply

  6. Gloria says

    May 28, 2019 at 9:45 am


    I love the combination of pasta and sausage. This looks like a winner dinner for the family. So much better than getting takeout. I would make a double batch..so we could have it again another day too. Perfect freezer meal.

    Reply

  7. Sharon Bobeczko says

    March 11, 2019 at 4:49 pm


    We are staying in a suites hotel for eight weeks while my husband undergoes radiation therapy. I love to cook and he is gluten and lactose intolerant so I am always looking for a new one pot dish. I came armed with my Instant Pot (actually two of them!) so I am ready to make meals that are healthy and meet hubby’s diet restrictions. Thank you so much for this. I just make it without the Parmesan and add cheese to my portion.

    Reply

  8. Tracy says

    February 24, 2019 at 5:42 pm


    Oh wow I have never thought about all of the pieces that go into an artisan pasta! The water and the bronze, oh my gosh. I need to get some but I’m also worried it’ll change my life forever so that I wont be able to eat anything else. What an incredible looking dish!

    Reply

  12. Gloria says

    November 5, 2018 at 7:56 pm


    We all need quick and delicious meals for busy weeknights. I can eat pasta every day. Sasauge and pasta are the perfect match here. I know hubby would love this, and the leftovers would be great for lunches too.

    Reply

  14. Monica | Nourish & Fete says

    April 30, 2018 at 3:40 pm


    This looks and sounds positively mouth-watering – and I love that it can be made ahead and reheated! I also am jealous that you can buy your Italian sausage in bulk – I will have to look for a source for that, because it would be so wonderful to always have it on hand!

    Reply

  17. Sues says

    April 29, 2018 at 2:22 pm


    Gorgeous pasta!! I love all that black pepper and basil on top 🙂 This is basically what I crave every single night of the week!

    Reply

  18. Meredith says

    April 28, 2018 at 10:23 pm


    What a delicious sounding pasta dish… and we all need more quick and easy meals like this for busy weeknights! Thank you!

    Reply

  20. Jordan says

    April 28, 2018 at 11:03 am


    Well hello, one pot perfection! This is my favorite kind of dinner – simple, flavorful, and easy to clean up. I just picked up some chicken sausage at Trader Joe’s that I think would go great in this!

    Reply

  21. Michelle says

    April 28, 2018 at 10:46 am


    You are so right, the better quality the ingredients the better the dish. I think this is especially true for tinned tomatoes and pasta. It really is worth paying that bit more if you can. This looks like such a rich and tasty dish, perfect for a great weeknight dinner.

    Reply

  25. Kate says

    April 23, 2018 at 9:55 pm

    What a beautiful hearty pasta dish! I love penne. My family probably eats pasta once a week. So good! I love the red pepper flakes addition.

    Reply

  27. Karyl Henry says

    April 22, 2018 at 10:37 pm


    I love that you make this as a one-pot dish! I swear every time I cook my kitchen looks like a disaster zone 🙂 I love spicy Italian sausage too…definitely adding this dish to my meal plan

    Reply

  30. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

    April 21, 2018 at 9:23 pm


    Pasta in 20 minutes and one pot got me interested! Love this for a weeknight dinner. I am always rushed for time for the dinner and these are a lifesaver.

    Reply

  32. Susie says

    April 21, 2018 at 9:52 am


    Hi Marisa, You know this is my kind of dinner….one dish and delicious! Plus, it’s easy to always have these ingredients stocked for a quick meal. As a matter of fact, we tried your receipt two nights ago…..Delish😋

    Thanks……enjoyed your video😊

    Reply

  33. Gloria says

    April 20, 2018 at 6:23 pm


    I love pairing sausage and pasta….and spicy sausage for sure in this house. This is a great dinner, and I would be happy serving this to guests too. Bring on the wine…party on!!

    Reply

  34. Veena Azmanov says

    April 20, 2018 at 6:16 pm


    I love Italian sausage so I know this will taste awesome. Love how simple and easy this is to make. I’m going to try this soon when I get my hands on some Italian sausages. yum!

    Reply

  35. Veena Azmanov says

    April 20, 2018 at 5:49 pm


    Oh, wow.. you had me at 20 mins. This is my kinda meal on busy days when I’m busy with a cake and still have to make lunch before kids get home from school. Love how easy this is Marisa.

    Reply

  38. Diane P. says

    April 19, 2018 at 3:35 pm


    Made this after I watched your facebook video. It was equally easy and delicious. My son finished it up the next day, and said it was even better after it sat overnight!! He loved the flavor. Thanks for this fantastic post, Marisa!

    Reply

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