This delicious and cheesy Italian sausage pasta is loaded with savory, spicy flavors of hot Italian sausage, shredded mozzarella cheese, rotini pasta, tomatoes, and seasonings. A hearty pasta recipe that is a family favorite for over 40 years.
If you’re looking for an easy dish full of flavor and can feed a hungry crowd, you’ve come to the right place. This is an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that I’ve been making since my kids were in high school. I always loved making this one because the entire house could stuff themselves, and I still had leftovers for the kids to eat the next day. It’s such a hearty dish, and it’s incredibly easy to mak, and if you’re pressed for time, that’s the best combo!
Italian Sausage Pasta
This delicious recipe starts with zesty, hot Italian sausage that I cook in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Then, I add a bit of sausage grease, not too much, and onions and garlic and cook those until they’re nice and tender. Finally, I add tomatoes and classic Italian seasonings and let it all simmer until the flavors meld. After that, I simply stir in al dente pasta and cheese and serve. That’s it! The entire process takes about an hour. When I’m done, I have a delicious meal that’s hearty and full of flavor without a ton of work. Perfection!
Why You’ll Love This Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
- The combination of hot Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, and rotini pasta is simply irresistible. The sausage adds a savory, spicy flavor, the cheese adds richness and creaminess, and the pasta provides a hearty base.
- It’s easy to make and only requires simple ingredients, and it makes a great option for an easy weeknight meal.
- It’s versatile and can be customized to your liking. For example, you can use mild Italian sausage or sweet Italian sausage instead of hot, you can use different pasta, and you can add additional ingredients, such as mushrooms and spinach.
Italian Sausage Pasta Ingredients
It only takes one quick trip to the grocery store to get everything you need for this recipe. Although it’s loaded with flavor, it’s not loaded with a lot of ingredients. It’s limited, simple, and convenient!
- Ground hot Italian sausage
- Onion
- Cloves garlic
- Diced tomatoes
- Oregano
- Basil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Rotini pasta
- Mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
How to Make Italian Sausage Pasta
Making this dish is just as simple as the ingredient list. It only takes a few simple steps and two pans. That’s it! It’s as easy as it is delicious.
Step 1: Cook the Sausage
Cook the sausage in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until the sausage is no longer pink. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the sausage grease, and set the sausage aside.
Step 2: Cook the Onions and Garlic
Add the reserved grease back to the skillet and saute the onions and garlic over medium heat until the onions are tender.
Step 3: Add the Tomatoes and Seasonings
Add the sausage, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
Step 4: Cook the Pasta
While the sausage mixture simmers, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to the package directions for al dente.
Step 5: Finish the Dish
Add the cooked pasta and mozzarella cheese to the sausage mixture and stir. Serve hot and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t use more than a couple of tablespoons of sausage grease to cook the onions. You only need enough to keep them from sticking.
- Cook your pasta to al dente so it remains firm. It won’t get mushy or fall apart when you mix it into the sausage mixture.
- It’s important to remove the sausage from the pan before cooking the onions. That keeps the sausage from being overcooked.
Variations
- For a mild version of this recipe, use mild Italian sausage.
- You can use ground beef or turkey in this recipe.
- Any short pasta variety will work well in this recipe.
- For more flavor, try adding black olives.
What to Serve with Italian Sausage Pasta
This is an incredibly hearty meal on its own, and I recommend keeping things simple. I usually serve this dish with a side salad and crusty bread or garlic bread.
Recipe FAQ
Sweet Italian sausage contains the same spices as mild Italian sausage, and both are not hot. The difference between the two is the addition of sweet basil to the sweet sausage.
The main difference between Italian sausage and other sausages is the seasoning. Italian sausage contains a large amount of fennel, a licorice-flavored herb, that gives the sausage its signature flavor.
Italian sausage pasta is cooked exclusively in a skillet or Dutch oven. The sausage and vegetables are all cooked in the skillet, then the liquid and seasonings are added. Finally, cooked pasta and cheese are stirred in.
Leftover pasta can be frozen quite effectively, and it can be frozen in sauces or on its own. That being said, pasta retains its shape and texture best when it’s frozen without sauce.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Italian Sausage Pasta
Store this pasta dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the pasta, place it in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat and cook until heated through.
Try This Delicious Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe Today
With so much flavor and so little effort, this is one dish you’re going to love. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend, it’s always the right time to make this sausage and pasta dish. Everyone loves it, and it’s so versatile. Give it a try, and I know you’ll fall in love with it. How could you not?!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Enjoy
This delicious Italian Sausage Penne Casserole is a hearty and delicious, family favorite pasta recipe loaded with Italian sausage, lots of cheese, diced tomatoes, penne pasta, classic Italian seasonings, and baked until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground hot Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounce diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 16 ounce rotini pasta
- 24 ounce mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat, cook sausage until sausage is no longer pink.
- Drain grease, reserving 2 tablespoons and set sausage aside.
- Add reserved grease back to skillet and saute onions on garlic, over medium heat, until onions are tender.
- Add sausage, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt and pepper into the skillet. Stir until combined, and let simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain.
- Add pasta and shredded mozzarella cheese into the sausage mixture, stir.
- Serve hot with a side salad and crusty bread.
Notes
Nutrition
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