One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta Recipe with Video
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One Pot Sausage Pasta is a family favorite comfort food meal. A creamy, cheesy tomato basil sauce cooks right into the linguine pasta in this amazing Italian sausage pasta recipe! Toss everything in a pot and let it cook. It’s so easy, it just about cooks itself. Now that’s my kind of meal!
One Pot Sausage Pasta
I am constantly on the hunt for quicker and simpler ways to feed my family in a healthier way. 30-minute meals and one pot dinners are big around here.
Even Christmas dinner, which used to be an all-day affair, is now prepared in 30 minutes unless it’s made in a crockpot.
Oh, my heavens. This one pot pasta sausage is the perfect meal. Tomatoes, basil, ooey-gooey cheese, and sausage come together to create the perfect sauce for the linguine.
The best part? You literally toss all of the ingredients in a pot and everything cooks together. Add some fresh herbs and cheese at the end, then serve.
It is so flavorful that Chad and I ate two bowls each. Even Munchkin loved it, and I am sure you will too!
Recipe Video
To see us make pasta with Italian sausage from start to finish, watch the video in this post!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Linguine – You can substitute 1 pound of any dry pasta if needed. Fettucine and spaghetti are great options.
Just cook it to al dente… this Italian phrase means, “with a slight bite to it.” - Sausage – I prefer Italian sausage links, but you can use your favorite. This one pot sausage pasta recipe is truly flexible!
- Veggies – Use a yellow or sweet onion, whichever you have on hand, plus plenty of grape tomatoes.
Cherry tomatoes are a great swap, and a medley will add some extra color! - Fresh Basil – I always have plenty from my garden, but everyone may not have the same access.
You can always toss in baby spinach leaves, then season with dried basil to create a similar flavor. - Liquid – Water works just fine, but using chicken or beef broth will add an immense boost of flavor!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Pasta with Italian Sausage
- Make prep a breeze!
All you need are 2 storage container lids to slice a handful of cherry tomatoes in half in seconds!
Simply place the tomatoes on one lid, then place the other lid on top. The lips should be facing each other.
Press down on one lid to hold everything in place, then run a serrated knife between the lids. Voila!
- Cook fresh sausage links first.
If they are from the deli section of the store (near the lunch meat), then all you have to do is slice them first.
But if your sausages are from the meat counter, there’s an extra step to this recipe! Toss them on the grill or smoker, or cook them in a pan on the stove.
Once they reach an internal temperature of 160-165°F, they’re done. Rest for a few minutes before slicing, then proceed with this Italian sausage pasta recipe.
- Grate a fresh wedge of Parmesan.
Trust me, it makes a HUGE difference in both flavor and texture. Pre-shredded parmesan tends to be waxy and a bit stiff — and please, don’t use the powdered stuff!
Instead, run fresh Parmesan over the smallest holes in your cheese grater (or use a microplane) for tiny, delicate shreds.
These will melt seamlessly into your one pot Italian sausage pasta in seconds, creating the perfect bite!
Prep Ahead
- Slice sausage and veggies
- Remove stems from basil leaves
- Peel and slice garlic cloves
- Shred parmesan cheese
Serving Suggestions
One pot Italian sausage pasta is a wonderful meal on its own, loaded with noodles, meat, and veggies.
Add some garlic bread or breadsticks to round out your plate, or extra roasted veggies to fill you right up!
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- 4 Quart Braising Pan – This is my favorite cookware to use for one-pot meals like this cheesy sausage pasta. The linguine fits completely inside without having to break it in half, so you can put the lid on.
- Tongs – I love this set of 3. I use every pair of them. They are so handy and grip amazingly well!
Storing and Reheating Italian Sausage Pasta
Allow the dish to cool, then transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Cheesy sausage pasta will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheat pasta with Italian sausage on the stove over low to medium heat. Add a splash of water or broth for moisture, and stir frequently until evenly warmed.
One Pot Sausage Pasta FAQ
As long as the links are pre-cooked, you do not — that’s the beauty of one pot recipes!
You can, however, brown the sliced sausage in the pot before adding the rest of the ingredients. It adds a few minutes to the overall cooking time but is an easy way to deepen the flavor.
Sure! Bell peppers, mushrooms, and even zucchini would be tasty additions.
Just keep in mind that veggies cook at different rates, so you may need to toss them in halfway through cooking one pot sausage pasta instead of at the beginning.
This one pot Italian sausage pasta isn’t overly saucy, but there’s an easy fix for that!
Add a little extra liquid at the beginning so it’s nice and hot but not fully absorbed at the end. Then, toss in a few tablespoons of cream cheese and toss until melted.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other One Pot Pasta Recipes
One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta Recipe with Video
Equipment
- dutch oven or other 6-8 quart pot
Ingredients
- 3 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half and divided
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 pound smoked Italian sausage links, precooked and sliced into coins
- 20-30 basil leaves, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 pound dry linguine, (See Notes)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 4 1/2 cups water, or beef or chicken broth
- 1 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Set aside 1 cup halved tomatoes, 10 basil leaves, and all of the Parmesan cheese.
- Combine remaining ingredients in a 12-inch braising pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, remove the cover and cook 7-9 minutes, or until pasta is al dente (with a bite to it). Toss pasta with tongs occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking. The liquid will be mostly absorbed when pasta is finished cooking.
- Add cheese and toss to combine. Cheese may clump at first, but will melt into the sauce after a few minutes. Toss in remaining tomatoes and basil before serving.
Video
Donna’s Notes
- Use your favorite sausage. I prefer Italian sausage links.
- You can substitute 1 pound of any type of dry pasta for the spaghetti. Linguine and fettucine are great options. Just be sure to cook the pasta to al dente (meaning, with a slight bite to it).
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2014. Updated and republished January 2024
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Printed, this will be great when my mom visits.
Yay! Let us know how it goes, enjoy.
This looks amazing. And easy enough that even a guy like me can make it, haha.
Let us know how it goes Chris!
This looks amazing! And easy enough for a guy like me to make, haha.
I'm grinning at this whole post, Donna. Never say never, right? 😉
Funny, you did warn me. I remember specifically. But, I had it all figured out. LOL <3
Did you buy the pre-cooked Italian sausage links at a regular market? I can't remember ever seeing them. I see the uncooked ones all the time, and the pre-cooked sausage like Hillshire Farms, but am not sure what you used in this recipe. It sounds so good and fast, I'd like to give it a try.
Look over by the hot dogs and lunch meat. Near the kielbasa. You will find smoked sausage links. They are already cooked. Enjoy! Let us know how it goes.
I used Eckrich 4 Pepper Sausage…it was delicious!
I am so happy you loved it!
We are confused by this also.The only smoked sausage near the kielbasa we found is Polish smoked sausage, rather than italian smoked sausage. Is this what you meant? Otherwise, they don't carry that in our stores.
There is 'fully cooked' sausage in the area of hot dogs and kielbasa in my stores. Wal-mart carries Guy Fieri's Italian sausage which are fabulous. Here is a link to his page that even has a coupon. LOL http://www.guyfieri.com/walmartsausages/
Farmer John also carries 'fully cooked' or smoked sausages. Any of these will work. Enjoy!
Ok thank you 🙂 I will be checking out our local Walmart. Sounds great!
I'm gonna try it with Linguica
yummy linguica should be awsome,,,,,comeing from myself haveing portigese in me
Why not just buy your favorite sausage and cook it yourself?
This looks amazing! I am in love with one pot meals right now! Pinning for later.
I made this tonight and it was A-freakin-mazing!! Delicious! 🙂
So happy you loved it and that is my kind of testimonial. A-freaking-mazing! 🙂
I saw a ton of one-pot pasta recipes last year too! Which reminds me it's time to share mine as well. I love your fresh flavoured one! Mine was a little heavier, warmer for cooler days. Either way, whoever thought of this is genius. I always welcome easier ways to make delicious dinners.
Can't wait to see yours Jayne! Thanks for stopping by.
Curious about the sausage…when you say precooked…you don't mean you cook it first, right? You mean that you already bought it from the store in a package that says 'precooked', right? Sorry, I never buy this kind of sausage so it may seem like a stupid question to others.
Look over by the hot dogs and lunch meat. Near the kielbasa. You will find smoked sausage links. They are already cooked. Enjoy! Let us know how it goes.
Just had it tonight…was a bit skeptical, initially, but as soon as the aroma hit the house, I was convinced it was going to be delicious!!! Paired with brussel sprouts and prosciutto and served with Vienna bread and roasted garlic oleo dip and a glass of Valpolicella and made it a fancy meal!
Oh my, that sounds divine Clarice! I am so happy you enjoyed it. I look forward to hearing about your future kitchen adventures. XO
I enjoyed this with brussels sprouts as well!
Thanks, Donna! I've been looking at the one-pot pasta meals you have and can't wait to try them! I love how last night's meal didn't require for me to slave over in the kitchen, like usual and that it was exquisite! *I'm thinking on investing a braising pan/dutch pot for these one-pot meals for the BIG appetite of my family. (Hope the picture shows) Lol. Again, thank you for this new find!
That sounds awesome Clarice! Keep us up to date on your kitchen adventures.
wonder if you could use precooked meatballs instead of the sausage
Absolutely that would be delicious. You may need to use a dutch oven or 12 qt stock pot to be sure nothing falls out, but that sounds divine!
Would it work with shredded swiss or American cheese instead of Parmesan cheese?
American cheese would melt easily, I am not sure how it would taste though. This dish is playing on Italian flavors. If you try it though, let me know how it goes.
I used a mixture of Parmesan and Mozzarella and it worked great.
Just did this recipe today and it came out really good.
I did add a small can of tomato paste and some lemon juice
This is definitely a keeper
Mmmm, that sounds lovely Paticao! Thanks for letting us know how it went. Keep us posted on your kitchen adventures, we love hearing from our readers.
I love one pot meals. I am wondering how this would work with a non-wheat pasta? Whattdaya think?
If the cook time is about the same (8-10 minutes of boiling), it should work perfectly. keep and eye on it. Let us know how it goes! Enjoy.
Tastes amazing and the family loved it
Made this last night for the family after working late. Delicious!
This was delicious!! I couldn't wait to get home and make it for dinner tonight.
I saw this link on FB yesterday and I tried it today. Success!!!! It was delicious. Here is my before and after pictures. http://imgur.com/WKVMDkv,gGF39iB#0 (I goofed and misread the recipe, but I dug most of the Parmesan cheese about right after I took the before pic!)
Vic, it looks awesome! I am so happy you loved it.
I made this tonight & it was great
Tried it last night…it is AWESOME!!
Made this for dinner using turkey sausage. Amazing tasting and super easy!
Has anyone used keilbasa?
tried this a couple of days ago, instead of water, I used chicken stock (cause I had some) and I used roasted red pepper and garlic chicken sausages…and I used minced garlic and tore the basil leaves…was AWESOME!!
I tried it a couple of days ago. My kids and husband loved it. Next time I might try it with grilled chicken.