If you’re looking for an easy dinner that the whole family will love, this easy Italian sausage pasta is it! It’s made with simple ingredients like ground Italian sausage, fresh garlic, tomato paste, tomato sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella, then tossed with penne pasta for the perfect cozy meal. The sausage adds so much flavor to the tomato sauce, while the Parmesan and mozzarella make it rich, creamy, and extra cheesy. Finish it with fresh basil and a little more Parmesan, and you have a restaurant-worthy dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe:
- Quick & easy: Dinner is on the table in about 30 minutes.
- Family-friendly: Simple flavors that kids and adults both love.
- Made with simple ingredients: You probably already have most of these ingredients in your kitchen.
- Extra cheesy: Parmesan and mozzarella make this pasta incredibly delicious.
- Perfect for leftovers: It reheats well, making it great for lunch the next day.
Ingredients:
- Penne pasta: Penne works perfectly because the sauce gets tucked inside the pasta tubes, but you can use any pasta you have on hand.
- Ground Italian sausage: This is where so much of the flavor comes from! Use mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preference.
- Fresh garlic & olive oil: These add a delicious base of flavor to the sauce.
- Tomato paste: Don’t skip this! Cooking the tomato paste for a minute or two helps deepen the flavor of the sauce.
- Tomato sauce: Creates the simple, delicious tomato base for the pasta.
- Pasta water: Reserve some of the water before draining your pasta. The starchiness helps loosen the sauce and make it silky.
- Parmesan & mozzarella: Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor while mozzarella makes the pasta perfectly cheesy and melty.
- Fresh basil: A little fresh basil at the end adds a bright, fresh flavor that balances the richness of the dish.
- Sea salt – For the pasta water and to finish. We use Redmond sea salt, it’s our favorite and we use it in everything! You can use the code daddioskitchen for 15% off. We get the big bag!
What to Serve with Easy Italian Sausage Pasta:
This pasta is filling enough to be a meal on its own, but it’s also delicious served with a simple side salad, roasted vegetables, or homemade garlic bread.
Can I Use a Different Pasta?
Absolutely! Penne is my favorite for this recipe, but rigatoni, ziti, rotini, shells, or spaghetti would all work well.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can make the pasta ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. When reheating, add a splash of water or extra tomato sauce to loosen it up.
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Alright, let’s get to making the recipe! Enjoy!
Easy Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3-4 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¾ 15 oz can tomato sauce
- ½-1 cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for topping
- ½-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped or torn, for topping
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic brown or burn.
- While the pasta cooks, add more olive oil to the pan with the garlic and cook the ground sausage. Break it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste and stir to combine. Add ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and keep stirring in water. Let the sauce simmer for 3–5 minutes. Add more pasta water as needed until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Turn the heat off and add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss until well coated in the sauce. Stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella until the cheese is melted and everything is creamy and combined.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with fresh basil and plenty of extra Parmesan. Serve warm & enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t skip the pasta water! The starchy water helps loosen the sauce and helps it cling to the pasta.
- Use mild or hot Italian sausage depending on how much spice you like.
- For an extra cheesy pasta, sprinkle additional mozzarella over the top and cover the skillet for 1–2 minutes until melted.
- Fresh basil added right before serving makes this pasta taste extra fresh.
