Quick Weeknight Sausage & Tomato Pasta
This quick and easy weeknight sausage and tomato pasta dish is perfect for a delicious and satisfying meal in under 30 minutes. Featuring savory Italian sausage, diced tomatoes, and a touch of cream, it's a family-friendly favorite.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 lb penne pasta
Meat
- 1 lb Italian sausage casings removed if links
Produce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Pantry
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14.5 oz, undrained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream optional
Seasoning & Garnish
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cooking Process
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package directions.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add sausage, breaking it up, and cook until browned for 5-7 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium and add chopped onion to the skillet, cooking until softened for 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in diced tomatoes and chicken broth, bringing to a simmer.
- Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and simmer for 5-7 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- If using, stir in the heavy cream.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sausage and sauce, tossing until well coated.
- If needed, add reserved pasta water for desired consistency, then season with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
For extra flavor, use a spicy Italian sausage. You can also add some red pepper flakes for a kick. If you don't have heavy cream, you can omit it or use a splash of milk for a lighter sauce.