One Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet
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Cheesy one-pot smoked sausage pasta is a quick and easy dinner that can be made in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, kids and adults both will like this recipe which is also easy to customize with what you have in your pantry.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Smoked Sausage Pasta
- Dinner Made in 30 Minutes – This is a fast, tasty dinner on the table in 30 minute or less and is made all in one skillet. It’s perfect for busy families for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Budget Friendly Flexible Recipe – This is a stretch-your-budget type recipe that can be pretty flexible with the ingredients. I like to add whatever vegetables I happen to have. You can also customize it to your family’s flavor preferences. The smoked sausage keeps the recipe inexpensive, and can also be stored in the fridge for a while.
- Kid-Friendly Cheesy Pasta – Most kids will love the cheesy pasta part. They can’t wait for this creamy smoked sausage pasta to hit the table. Adults will love mixing it up with more flavors and enjoy a bowl of delish cozy comfort food. We love this recipe just as much as our homemade cheesy hamburger helper pasta shells, and it’s great to switch things up.
Ingredients For Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.
- smoked sausage – can use kielbasa (like Hillshire Farms), andouillie sausage or other smoked sausage links. Smoked chicken sausage or smoked turkey sausage are also delicious in this recipe.
- onion – I prefer sweet onion, but you can use white, yellow or purple onion
- chicken broth low sodium
- salt
- black pepper
- tomatoes with green chilies canned, like Rotel. you can used plain diced tomatoes or roasted tomatoes. Canned chopped green chilies (mild or spicy) can also be added to plain tomatoes, I recommend using about an ounce or two depending on your heat preferences.
- heavy cream can also use half and half. Milk can also be used but the sauce will be a lot less creamy.
- pasta short and shaped, I used campanelle. Shapes like spirals, ziti, penne or bow tie pasta all work in this pasta dish.
- pepper jack cheese shredded, can also use monetary jack cheese or cheddar cheese if your family prefers no spice. I recommend shredding the cheese from a block as the pre-shredded cheese has fillers that will make the cheese sauce more clumpy.
- green onions optional garnish
Sometimes I add Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning or minced garlic and cook it with the onions for more flavor in this recipe, especially if I only have plain canned tomatoes.
How To Make This Smoked Sausage Pasta Recipe
- Slice the smoked sausage into small rounds that are about ¼ inch thick. Dice the onion into small pieces between ¼ and ½ inch thick.
- Spray a large skillet with a lid with cooking spray and turn to medium high heat. Add the smoked sausage and onion to the pan. Cook until both the sausage and the onion brown, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, heavy cream, pasta, salt and pepper to the pan. Stir well until fully mixed. Bring the liquid in the pan to a boil.
- Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to medium low to keep the liquid simmering. Cook covered for 12-15 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Some liquid in the pan is ok as this will form the sauce. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese over top the pasta. Cover with the lid and allow the cheese to melt. Then stir, serve and enjoy, topping with sliced green onions if desired.
Variation Ideas For One Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta
This is a great recipe to clean out your fridge of a few extra vegetables that might be hanging in the back. Diced bell pepper, shredded carrots, broccoli floretts or green beans can be added at the same time you add tomatoes.
Keep the vegetables all about the same size and to keep most of them on the smaller side.
If you have vegetables with more water in them such as diced zucchini or celery, I recommend cooking the water out of it when you cook the onions. Fresh spinach can be stirred into this recipe at the end.
Frozen vegetables like peas, carrots, green beans, corn or even spinach can be defrosted in the microwave, drained of any water and then added at the end.
Yes, extra canned vegetables can be added to this recipe. I recommend rinsing and draining any canned vegetables well before adding them at the same time you add the tomatoes. Adding extra liquid from the can will cause the pasta to likely be too gummy, or possibly too salty.
Other varieties of smoked sausage like chicken, pork or even vegeterian options can be used. I’ve found most flavors of smoked sausage that I have tried work fine in this dish.
Chopped chicken, ham, crumbled bacon or shrimp would all all be delicious stirred into this dish.
Adding a little bit of red pepper flakes can compliment the creaminess of this dish. I recommend adding this at the table to taste for each person.
Yes you can really use any mild melty cheese in this recipe. Cheddar and Monterery Jack are both great options but so are cheeses like provolone and even gouda.
Can You Freeze Leftover Smoked Sausage Pasta?
This recipe won’t freeze well after cooked. I find the noodles just tend to fall apart when frozen, and the creamy sauce just doesn’t reheat into a smooth sauce.
How Long Will Smoked Sausage Pasta Last?
Expect that this smoked sausage pasta will last for about three days in the refrigerator if you store it in a covered airtight container.
More Easy Recipe Ideas
One-Pot Smoked Sausage And Rice
Cheesy Unstuffed Pepper Skillet (One Pan!)
Creamy Sausage Pasta
One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked sausage
- 1/2 medium onion
- 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 10 ounces tomatoes with green chilies canned, like Rotel
- 1/2 cup heavy cream can also use half and half
- 8 ounces pasta short shaped, I used campanelle
- 2 cups pepper jack cheese shredded, can also use monetary jack
- green onions optional garnish
Instructions
- Slice the smoked sausage into small rounds that are about ¼ inch thick. Dice the onion into small pieces between ¼ and ½ inch thick.
- Spray a large skillet with a lid with cooking spray and turn to medium high heat. Add the smoked sausage and onion to the pan. Cook until both the sausage and the onion brown, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, heavy cream, pasta, salt and pepper to the pan. Stir well until fully mixed. Bring the liquid in the pan to a boil.
- Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to medium low to keep the liquid simmering. Cook covered for 12-15 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Some liquid in the pan is ok as this will form the sauce. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
- Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese over top the pasta. Cover with the lid and allow the cheese to melt. Then stir, serve and enjoy, topping with sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
I made this tonight for dinner and Kristy , this was absolutely delicious!!! Two things that I love and adore in it being Sausage and Pasta . I even double batched it right out of the gate and I’m glad I did . Already have lunch for tomorrow. It’s added to my favorites and I’ll be making this rather regularly I believe. I see what you mean about the cheese clumping. Next time I’ll use the block cheese . Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipe with us.
Thank you Greg, I’m honored to have a recipe on your favorites list!