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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Pasta Recipes » Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta

    Published: October 21, 2016 / Updated: December 15, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta

    7697 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork with title text overlay.
    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork with title text overlay.
    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork with title text overlay.

    This yummy, hearty Italian sausage pasta is the perfect easy dinner recipe for cool weather and busy weeknights. It's a rich, satisfying pasta recipe that you can make with simple ingredients in just 30 minutes!

    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork.

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

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🍝 Ingredient notes
    • 👩🏽‍🍳 Equipment
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 💡Cooking tips and recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🥘 More 30-minute dinner recipes
    • Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta
    • Pin it:

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage in a cast iron skillet.

    This is one of my favorite pasta dishes because it's:

    • 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 common ingredients you most likely have on hand.
    • Versatile: you can adjust the seasonings, the heat to your family's particular taste preferences.

    This is an amazing dish when you are craving the ultimate comfort food. It's one of those rich, hearty dishes with incredible flavor that fills you up with warmth from the inside out.

    Pasta is versatile, and just goes with everything. Be sure to check out all of our pasta recipes on the blog for more dinner ideas!

    🍝 Ingredient notes

    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage in a cast iron skillet.

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

    The ingredients are all listed with exact measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are a few notes about some of the main ingredients.

    Pasta - Rigatoni or any other cylinder-shaped pasta is best because it acts like a vessel for the rich pasta sauce and meat. I cook it until is just al dente so it doesn't become too soft.

    Italian sausage - use either bulk ground Italian sausage, or Italian sausage links with the casings removed.

    Garlic - I use three cloves, but you can use more or less depending on your taste preference.

    Herbs - The recipe calls for dried oregano, fresh parsley, and fresh basil. But you can also use tarragon.

    👩🏽‍🍳 Equipment

    Ready to make this recipe? Here are the key kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

    • A large pot to cook the pasta - you'll want one big enough that the pasta doesn't stick together while cooking
    • A cast-iron skillet

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Cook pasta according to package directions.

    cooking onions and garlic
    adding sausage to garlic and onions in a pan.
    1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic for a couple of minutes, just until the onions are translucent.
    2. Add ground sausage to skillet and stir until fully cooked, about 5 minutes.

    3. Add beef broth (you can also use chicken broth if you prefer) or red wine and scrap browned sausage bits off the bottom of the skillet.

    4. Add diced tomatoes (undrained, with the juices), tomato paste, and dried oregano, and stir all ingredients well. Turn heat down to low heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes.

    5. 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.

    6. Remove from heat. Sprinkle parsley, basil, and/or cheese just before serving. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

    💡Cooking tips and recipe FAQs

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

    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. You can also use spicy Italian sausage if you want extra heat.

    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.

    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 dairy-free food substitutions. Like this dairy-free grated parmesan alternative.

    What's the best way to store Italian Sausage Pasta?

    This pasta will keep for up to days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can either reheat it in the microwave or over medium heat in a skillet. Adding a couple of tablespoons of water to soften the pasta and heat it more evenly.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    This pasta dish is delicious when served with a big green salad and a side of bread. Try these Garlic Parmesan Knots, Garlic Rosemary Focaccia, or Homemade French Bread.

    It's also delicious with a nutritious side of Air Fryer Broccoli or Grilled Asparagus.

    🥘 More 30-minute dinner recipes

    Try one of these 45 of the Best Family-Friendly 30-Minute Meals or one of these scrumptious and fast recipes:

    • Crab Deviled Eggs
    • Taco Dip with Ground Beef
    • Caprese Crostini
    • Pan-Seared Sea Bass

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork.

    Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta

    5 from 28 votes
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This is a hearty, satisfying pasta meal the whole family will love!
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 435kcal
    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 instructions.
    • 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.

    Notes

    Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four or five days. Store in a freezer-friendly airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.
     
    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

    Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 632mg | Potassium: 741mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 640IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg

    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.

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    bowl of rigatoni pasta with Italian sausage on a white and blue checkered napkin and a fork with title text overlay.
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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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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! 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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