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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta

    Published: October 21, 2016 / Updated: February 12, 2021 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta

    7697 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This yummy, hearty Italian sausage pasta is the perfect family dinner for cool weather days. 

    Italian Sausage Pasta is an easy, hearty family dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights. Find this pasta recipe on http://www.UrbanBlissLife.com

    This pasta recipe has long been a family favorite – for my family, and for so many families who have tried it! This Rigatoni with Italian Sausage pasta dish has long been one of the most popular recipes on the blog. For good reason!

    Rigatoni with Italian Sausage Pasta is:

    • Easy to make
    • Fast: Most people make this in 30 minutes, and some it takes a few minutes longer.
    • A great pantry recipe, using up ingredients you most likely have on hand.
    • Versatile: you can adjust the seasonings, the heat to your family's particular taste preferences.
    rigatoni and italian sausage in a pan

    This is an amazing dish when you are craving the ultimate comfort food. Those rich, hearty dishes that fill you up with warmth from the inside out.

    I would eat pasta for lunch and dinner, at least four times a week, if I could. Pasta is versatile, and just goes with everything. It makes for great vegan dishes, vegetarian dishes, seafood, and meat recipes.

    Italian Sausage with Rigatoni Pasta

    Rigatoni with Italian Sausage in a skillet

    Let's talk about what you need to make this Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta.

    As far as equipment goes, you will need:

    • a large pot to cook the pasta
    • a cast-iron skillet

    The ingredients are all listed with exact measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here's what you'll need to gather:

    • Pasta - Rigatoni or other cylinder-shaped pasta is best
    • Italian sausage - use either bulk ground Italian sausage, or Italian sausage links with the casings removed.
    • Olive oil - Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil so that the dish starts off with the best flavor.
    • Garlic - I use three cloves, but you can use more or less depending on your taste preference
    • Onion - half of one small yellow onion, or a white onion will also work. Do not use a red onion.
    • beef broth
    • Tomatoes - use canned diced tomatoes
    • Dried oregano
    • Fresh parsley
    • Fresh basil
    • Kosher salt and pepper
    italian sausage pasta in skillet

    It's so good. Not too spicy, and it doesn't have any "weird" ingredients the kids might balk at. It's just delicious comfort food at its best.

    This is hearty Italian sausage pasta is one of my absolute favorite easy, satisfying family dinner recipes.

    It's a great recipe that you can easily customize to your family's personal taste preference. I hope you try it and love it, too!

    What's the best pasta shape to use in this recipe?

    Italian Sausage Pasta in skillet

    I have found rigatoni to be the best pasta shape to hold the sauce and flavors, but you can also use penne pasta, gemeli, rotini, or even medium or large shells.

    Any pasta shape that acts like a vessel to hold the sauce is a great pick for this dish.

    How can I add BIG flavor to this Italian Sausage Pasta dish?

    My kids like this dish mild, so that's how I've created the Italian Sausage Pasta recipe. But you can easily add more spices & herbs for a punch of flavor and a little more kick.

    For example, add fresh tarragon or sage for an herbaceous fall flavor or some red pepper flakes for a little spice.

    How can I make this dish super cheesy?

    Love cheese? Sprinkle parmesan cheese or asiago cheese on the cooked dish and place it in a 400 degree oven (middle rack) for about 7-8 minutes to melt the cheese.

    What are the best gluten-free pastas?

    Grain-free, dairy-free pasta like my favorite Cappello's pasta is an amazing replacement for pasta.

    How do I make this pasta recipe dairy-free?

    To make this Italian Sausage Pasta recipe dairy-free, you can use some of my favorite substitutions. Like this dairy-free parmesan alternative

    More easy family dinner recipes

    • 45 of the Best Family-Friendly 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
    • The Best Instant Pot Chili Recipe
    Rigatoni with Italian Sausage is an easy, hearty family dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights. Find this pasta recipe on http://www.UrbanBlissLife.com

    Easy, Hearty Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

    5 from 28 votes
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This is a hearty, satisfying pasta meal the whole family will love!
    Servings: 6
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Equipment

    • Large Pot for Pasta
    • Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces rigatoni
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ pound Italian sausage, with casing removed
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
    • ¼ cup beef broth or red wine
    • 1 can (14.5 ounce can) petite diced tomatoes undrained
    • 1 can (8 ounce can) tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
    • 1 teaspoon finely chopped basil
    • parmesan cheese or grated non-dairy cheese optional
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta according to package directions.
    • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    • Add garlic and onions, and sauté for about 2 minutes, just until the onions are translucent.
    • Add ground sausage to skillet and stir until fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
    • Add beef broth or wine and scrap browned sausage bits off the bottom of the skillet.
    • Add diced tomatoes (undrained, with the juices), tomato paste, and dried oregano, and stir all ingredients well. Turn heat down to low-medium and simmer for at least 10 minutes.
    • Add cooked pasta and ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the skillet and stir all ingredients until the pasta is coated with the sauce. If needed, add more reserve water to create a sauce consistency to your liking.
    • Remove from heat. Sprinkle parsley, basil, and/or cheese just before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    PIN IT:

    Italian Sausage Psata is an easy, hearty family dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights. Find this pasta recipe on http://www.UrbanBlissLife.com
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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. David says

        June 30, 2020 at 5:51 pm

        5 stars
        Very easy and quick to make. Turned out wonderful. Added white mushrooms and red wine instead of beef bullion.

        Will put this in our dinner rotation.

        Reply
      2. Katherine Bell says

        October 16, 2018 at 7:20 pm

        Needed a quick & delicious dinner for my family and this was perfect! I doubled the ingredients except for the tomato paste and it turned out fantastic! Thanks!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          October 17, 2018 at 12:46 pm

          So glad to hear you loved it and it worked with doubling ingredients for you, Katherine!

      3. Michelle says

        October 16, 2018 at 6:40 pm

        I read through the directions 3 times while making this and had my husband read through them as well. In the ingredients list it has Basil but no where in the in directions for cooking it is it listed to use? Why would you list it as an ingredient if your not going to includ it in the directions?

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          October 16, 2018 at 6:51 pm

          Oh Michelle! I was *just* switching over the recipe to my new recipe plugin. Check now, the basil should be there! Please let me know if you see anything else wonky. Most transfers are seamless but sometimes things get left out.

      4. Valerie Fowler says

        June 30, 2018 at 11:20 pm

        I had really high hopes for this recipe, unfortunately it was very bland. The tomato paste was all I could taste, it was so thick and didn't have any flavor.

        Reply
        • Sandra says

          June 16, 2020 at 5:23 pm

          I, too, found this recipe to be a bit bland, but I added some cream cheese and Italian seasonings. Made a quick and easy recipe even better!

      5. Elena says

        April 06, 2018 at 4:29 pm

        Wow so simple to make and it was very tasty

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          April 07, 2018 at 8:20 pm

          So glad you liked it, Elena! Thank you for trying my recipe!

      6. Sally says

        September 14, 2017 at 9:45 pm

        I just made your recipe and thought it was perfect. Simple to make and perfect amount. Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
      7. Carey says

        September 06, 2017 at 10:47 pm

        So good. Tried it tonight and it was amazing.

        Reply
      8. Ruth Granderson says

        August 01, 2017 at 3:17 pm

        I tried it though I didn't have Italian sausage I used shrimp and added a few other vegetables and it turned out really nice. Thanks

        Reply
      9. Sandy says

        June 03, 2017 at 12:46 pm

        The recipe calls for a can of diced petite tomatoes...what size can?

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          June 03, 2017 at 4:02 pm

          Hi Sandy! I used a standard 14.5 ounce can of diced petite tomatoes. I'll update the recipe to reflect that :). Thanks!

      10. Darlene says

        April 03, 2017 at 4:44 pm

        I've made this twice and it's delicious. It's a quick week night meal that taste like you've been cooking all day.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          April 08, 2017 at 3:00 pm

          SO glad to hear that, Darlene! Thanks for trying the recipe!

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      Hey Hey! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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