Easy Italian Sausage Pasta
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!
Servings: 6
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.