This Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta recipe is a delicious comfort food recipe and a great way to feed a crowd! While everyone loves pasta on its own, pairing it up with cheese, sausage, and other delicious ingredients just takes it totally over the top! When you’re wanting a hearty meal that you can get on the table fast, this pasta recipe needs to be on your radar.
I love using my dutch oven to cook up meals. Not only does it make it quick and simple, but it just makes certain that the temperature is even and steady throughout, too. We’ve all had those cheaper pans that just don’t cook things quite right…but this simple dutch oven recipe proves that consistency is the key in creating this delicious dish.
Pasta is also a great way to make a hearty meal that really “sticks to the ribs”. And if you do happen to have any leftover, this sausage pasta recipe heats up perfectly, too!
What other ingredients can you add to this Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta recipe?
This is totally up to you. Since this recipe already has bell peppers and tomatoes in it, why not add in some mushrooms as well? This is your chance to really up the number of veggies that you can get into the tummies of your kids! And when you’re smothering those veggies with delicious sauce and cheese, you can easily add quite a bit and they’ll never know the difference.
Is this homemade pasta recipe spicy?
There is a bit of a kick to this recipe just because of the hot Italian Sausage. While it’s not over the top hot, if you or someone in your family have a sensitive pallet, they might notice that there are some extra spices to take note of.
But don’t worry, you can easily combat the spice by having a side dish of cottage cheese on hand. If your mouth heats up a bit after trying this recipe, just eat a spoonful of cottage cheese in your mouth and you’ll be cooled right down.
You can also switch out the hot Italian sausage for sweet Italian sausage, too. There is a different taste but it tastes just as delicious without the spice. And if you want it a bit more spicy, just add in a pinch of red pepper flakes into the sauce along with the other seasonings and spices.
Why is my pasta mushy?
There’s really one reason as to why your pasta is mushy…You’ve overcooked your pasta during the cooking process. And even though it might have a different texture and taste, you can still eat it without worry. Since there’s nothing wrong with it, its’ still safe for everyone to enjoy.
Just make certain that you’re following the directions for cooking the pasta as they’re listed below. And if you’re still nervous about overcooking the pasta, do what I do and take one out and give it a taste test as you go. Some people like their pasta a little firmer than others so you can easily make the call as to when you want to serve this pasta recipe at the perfect time.
Toppings for this Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta
While this recipe is totally delicious on its own, adding toppings is always a lot of fun. Load up on more cheese, or add some sour cream to the top of the finished recipe.
Chives, fresh cilantro, fresh jalapenos, and freshly grated Parmesan are also great contenders and options to have as topping choices, too. Because while toppings add a lot of flavor and fun, they also let each person customize their dish to suit them and their taste buds easily.
So, what are you waiting for? This simple dinner recipe is a great way to get everyone excited about eating together as a family and looking forward to filling up their plates. The taste and flavor are just part of the added bonus!
Ingredients Needed To Make This Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta
- Hot Italian sausage
- Ground beef
- Onions, garlic
- Green bell peppers
- Butter
- Oregano, basil
- Salt, pepper
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Diced tomatoes
- Rotel®
- Beef broth
- Elbow macaroni
- Mozzarella cheese
(Actual measurements are in the recipe card below.)
How To Make This Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
- In a large pot or large skillet over medium high heat, melt butter and cook sausage links until browned on all sides (will still be pink inside).
- Once sausage has browned, remove from pan and slice into ½ inch thick pieces, then return to pan.
- Add ground beef, bell pepper, onions and garlic.
- Cook until meat is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain grease and return to pan.
- Sprinkle oregano, basil, salt and pepper over meat, stir.
- Pour tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and Rotel® into pan, reduce heat, stir.
- Cover and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add beef broth and pasta, stir and continue cooking until pasta is tender.
- Remove from heat and add shredded cheese, stir until cheese has melted. Can sprinkle with Parmesan cheese as well.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Try This Delicious Pasta Recipe Today
Here are a few more delicious pasta recipes that can be found on the blog:
Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb Hot Italian sausage
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 green bell peppers, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 10 oz can Rotel®
- 4 cups beef broth
- 16 oz large elbow macaroni
- 16 oz block Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter and cook sausage links until browned on all sides (will still be pink inside).
- Once sausage has browned, remove from pan and slice into ½ inch thick pieces, then return to pan.
- Add ground beef, bell pepper, onions and garlic.
- Cook until meat is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain grease and return to pan.
- Sprinkle oregano, basil, salt and pepper over meat, stir.
- Pour tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and Rotel® into pan, stir. Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add beef broth and pasta, stir and continue cooking until pasta is tender.
- Remove from heat and add shredded cheese, stir until cheese has melted.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Here are a few pics that are the perfect size for pinning to Pinterest.
Enjoy, Terri
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