If you’re craving a dinner that brings together rich, comforting flavors with minimal fuss, you’re going to love this One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe. Imagine tender rigatoni soaking up a luscious blend of marinara, cream, and Parmesan, all infused with savory Italian sausage and fragrant garlic and herbs. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity—everything cooks together in just one pot, making cleanup a breeze and the whole process incredibly satisfying. It’s a hearty, family-pleasing meal that feels special but comes together faster than you’d expect.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe starts with a handful of simple yet essential ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role in building the dish’s rich flavor, creamy texture, and inviting color palette, so let’s get familiar with the stars of the show.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Adds a fragrant, fruity base and helps brown the sausage beautifully.
- Italian sausage: The heart of the dish, providing deep, savory notes with a touch of spice.
- Sweet onion: Gives a subtle sweetness that balances the sausage’s richness.
- Garlic: Infuses the dish with irresistible aroma and depth of flavor.
- Dried Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that brings classic Italian flavor.
- Coarse salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning and enhancing all the flavors.
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional): Adds a gentle heat if you like a little kick.
- Tomato paste: Concentrates the tomato flavor and enriches the sauce.
- Low-sodium chicken broth: The liquid base that cooks the pasta while imparting savory depth.
- Marinara sauce: Provides body and tangy sweetness to the pasta sauce.
- Uncooked rigatoni pasta: Jumbo tubular pasta that holds the sauce perfectly.
- Heavy cream: Adds luscious creaminess and smooths out the acidic tomato flavors.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese: Gives a salty, nutty finish that melts into the sauce beautifully.
- Fresh basil leaves: Offers brightness and a pop of herbal freshness.
How to Make One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe
Step 1: Brown Sausage and Onions
Start by warming the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and diced onion, breaking up the sausage with a wooden spoon as it cooks. This step is crucial—it develops those deeply savory flavors and softens the onion to a sweet tenderness. Once the sausage is cooked through and the onions are translucent, stir in the minced garlic, letting it become fragrant for just about 20 seconds before adding your Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Drain any excess grease for a cleaner, lighter sauce.
Step 2: Add Tomato Paste
Next, stir in the tomato paste until well combined. This thickens the sauce and deepens the tomato flavor, forming a lovely base for the pasta as it cooks.
Step 3: Add Liquids and Pasta
Pour in the chicken broth, marinara sauce, and uncooked rigatoni. Give everything a good stir to combine and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, cover the pot and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 14 minutes, stirring a couple of times towards the end to prevent sticking. The pasta absorbs the flavorful liquid, cooking perfectly al dente while creating an irresistibly rich sauce.
Step 4: Add Cream and Cheese
After the pasta has cooked through, pour in the heavy cream and warm it through for a minute or two. Then add the grated Parmesan cheese along with the sliced fresh basil, stirring everything together until silky, cheesy, and vibrant with herbaceous goodness.
Step 5: Serve
Remove from heat and serve the pasta steaming hot in bowls. Don’t forget to pass extra Parmesan at the table—you’ll want it! This final step brings the dish to life, inviting everyone to dive in and savor every comforting forkful.
How to Serve One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra pop of color and flavor, sprinkle additional freshly grated Parmesan and a few torn basil leaves on top right before serving. A drizzle of good-quality olive oil or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes can also brighten the presentation and taste.
Side Dishes
This One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness or some warm, crusty garlic bread to soak up every last bit of the creamy sauce.
Creative Ways to Present
To turn this cozy meal into a dinner party standout, serve the pasta family-style in a large, rustic serving dish or portion it out in pretty pasta bowls topped with microgreens or edible flowers. Pair with a chilled glass of white wine and you’ve got yourself a winner!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors actually deepen overnight, making for an even tastier next-day meal.
Freezing
This dish freezes well if you want to keep portions for later. Cool completely then pack into freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce if it has thickened too much. Stir often to keep the pasta creamy and smooth.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Absolutely! While rigatoni is perfect for holding onto the sauce, penne, ziti, or shells work wonderfully too. Just adjust the cooking time as needed based on the pasta you choose.
Is Italian sausage spicy?
Italian sausage can be mild or spicy depending on the brand and type you buy. If you prefer less heat, look for mild sausage, or leave out the red pepper flakes in the recipe.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
You can swap the sausage for plant-based sausage or hearty vegetables like mushrooms, eggplant, and zucchini to keep it vegetarian—but the flavor profile will change a bit.
How do I know when the pasta is done?
The pasta should be al dente—tender but still with a little bite to it. Since it cooks right in the sauce, stir occasionally and taste toward the end of cooking to ensure perfect texture.
Can I prepare this recipe in advance?
You can prep the sausage and onion mixture ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you’re ready, just add the liquids, pasta, and finish cooking. This saves time on busy days.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about how a humble pot can produce such an amazing dinner, and this One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe is a shining example. With its cozy flavors, creamy texture, and effortless prep, it’s destined to become one of your go-to weeknight meals. Don’t wait to try it—you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
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One-Pot Sausage Pasta Recipe
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This One-Pot Sausage Pasta recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines savory Italian sausage, tender rigatoni pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce. Made entirely in one pot, it’s a quick and easy meal perfect for busy weeknights, delivering rich taste with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed, if using links)
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 12 ounces uncooked rigatoni pasta (about ¾ of a box)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 basil leaves, sliced
Instructions
- Brown Sausage and Onions: Warm the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium-high heat, swirling to coat the bottom evenly. Add the Italian sausage and diced onion. Break up the sausage with a wooden spoon into small crumbles, cooking for about 5 minutes until the sausage is fully cooked and the onion is tender. Stir in the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant, around 20 seconds. Add dried Italian seasoning, coarse salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix well and then drain off excess grease from the pot.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste thoroughly, ensuring it evenly coats the sausage mixture for depth of flavor.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, marinara sauce, and uncooked rigatoni pasta. Stir to combine all ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, stir, cover with a lid, and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Let it cook for approximately 14 minutes, stirring occasionally especially towards the end, to prevent the pasta from sticking. The pasta should absorb most of the liquid and become al dente.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Pour in the heavy cream and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes to warm through. Then add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and sliced fresh basil leaves, stirring gently to incorporate and create a creamy consistency.
- Serve: Remove the pot from heat. Serve the sausage pasta hot in individual bowls. Optionally, pass additional freshly grated Parmesan cheese at the table for extra flavor.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the saltiness of the dish.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your spice preference or omit for a milder flavor.
- Italian sausage can be spicy or mild depending on your choice; use your preferred variety.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk though the sauce will be less rich.
- Make sure to stir the pasta a few times during simmering to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot.
