Description
This quick and easy one-pan pasta features smoked sausage, creamy cheese, and a spicy tomato sauce for a comforting meal. With minimal prep and cleanup, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb smoked turkey sausage, sliced
- 1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic (about 2–3 fresh cloves)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes (with or without chiles, like Rotel)
- 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
- 8 oz dry pasta (rotini, penne, or farfalle)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
- 1/3 cup sliced scallions, for garnish
Instructions
-
Sauté sausage and onions:
- Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Add onions and sliced sausage and cook until lightly browned.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
-
Cook pasta:
- Add chicken broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), milk, pasta, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
-
Add cheese and finish:
- Turn off the heat and stir in ½ cup of cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes until melted.
- Garnish with sliced scallions and serve.
(Optional: Broil for a couple of minutes for a golden, bubbly cheese topping.)
Notes
- Use smoked sausage for the best flavor, but any sausage variety works.
- Swap Cheddar-Jack for mozzarella, sharp cheddar, or your favorite cheese.
- Adjust spice level by using Rotel with chiles or adding red pepper flakes.
- For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream instead of milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg