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Smoked Sausage Pasta is an easy weeknight dinner with a creamy & cheesy tomato based sauce, tender penne pasta, and smoked kielbasa sausage. Everything cooks in just one pot and it’s ready for the dinner table in no time!
I love keep a smoked kielbasa sausage in the fridge because it keeps fresh for awhile and it’s great for those night when I forget to thaw frozen meat for dinner. Try these other recipes that use a smoked sausage (kielbasa sausage) – BBQ Sausage Bites and Kielbasa Corn Chowder.
Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta Recipe
This smoked sausage pasta is the best pasta dish for an easy weeknight dinner – complete with a creamy sauce, penne pasta, and kielbasa sausage. It comes together quickly and everything cooks in one pot on the stove, which means you end up with minimal dishes.
I love this dinner recipe because my family is never satisfied with no meat dinners, which can sometimes mean that I don’t have frozen meat thawed. This smoked sausage pasta is a lifesaver because the kielbasa smoked sausage keeps well in the fridge for awhile, so I can keep it in there and it’s ready to use when I need a protein packed dinner.
Ingredients Needed
- Olive Oil : I use extra-virgin ‘light tasting’ olive oil.
- Smoked Sausage : Use any flavor or variety you want – hot smoked sausage, beef smoked, cajun style, turkey sausage, polska kielbasa, cheddar, etc.
- Onion : Use a white onion, yellow onion, sweet onion, or a red onion. I like to use either yellow onion or sweet onion when I make this.
- Garlic : Mince or press fresh garlic cloves, use chopped or minced garlic from a jar, or garlic paste.
- Chicken Broth : I use full salted chicken broth for this recipe because pasta is so bland, but if you prefer reduced-sodium broth then that can be used instead.
- Diced Tomatoes : I like the petite diced tomatoes when a recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes.
- Penne Pasta
- Heavy Cream
- Dried Thyme
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese : You can use the shelf-stable grated parmesan cheese, bagged shredded parmesan cheese, or buy a wedge and shred it yourself. I like to use the cheaper grated parmesan cheese because it’s easy to keep on hand.
- Chopped Fresh Parsley : Optional garnish for serving if wanted.
How To Make Creamy Pasta With Smoked Sausage (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large pot or dutch oven, over medium high heat, add the olive oil, smoked sausage, and onion. Cook until the sausage is browned and the onions have softened.
Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute or until very fragrant.
Stir the dry penne pasta, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, dried thyme, salt & pepper into the sausage mixture in the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer (medium low heat), stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking. Allow it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is al dente or softened to your liking and the excess liquid is absorbed.
Add the shredded cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese, and stir until the cheese is melted and combined.
Serve the pasta with chopped parsley, if wanted, and enjoy!
How To Store Smoked Sausage Pasta
- Leftovers : Any leftover smoked sausage pasta should be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 4-5 days.
- To Freeze : Place the sausage pasta into a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating and serving the next day.
- To Reheat : Heat in the microwave or stovetop until heated through. Add a splash of heavy cream, broth, or water to keep it from drying out and bring the creaminess in the dish back together.
What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?
- Olive Oil : You can also use avocado oil, coconut oil, canola or vegetable oil.
- Smoked Sausage : Use any variety or flavor of smoked sausage that you prefer. You need 16 ounces (or 1 pound) of sausage for this recipe. Some smoked sausage is only 14 ounces, which is not quite 1 pound, but that’s what I use and it turns out just fine.
- Chicken Broth : Beef and vegetable broth are both excellent alternatives.
- Diced Tomatoes : Use petite diced tomatoes (I prefer using these) or use a can of spicy diced tomatoes with green chilies for some heat.
- Penne Pasta : You can use any similar shaped pasta as penne; such as bow tie pasta, large or medium shell pasta, rotini pasta, or a gluten-free pasta.
- Cheddar Cheese : Other great alternatives are Colby Jack, Mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, white cheddar cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread : Serve the pasta with some Cheesy Garlic Bread, Garlic Parmesan Knots, or buy some bread or rolls from the bakery.
- Salad : A simple green salad or garden salad is always a great addition to pasta dishes. Use a bagged salad mix with your favorite dressing, or you can get green leaf lettuce and add all your veggies to it. I like to buy a bag of the Caesar salad kit and mix that together right before dinnertime.
- Roasted Vegetables : This dish goes great with some roasted vegetables such as roasted carrots, roasted asparagus, or roasted broccoli.
Recipe FAQs
How Can I Make This Pasta Dish Spicy?
To add spice, add some red pepper flakes, use Pepper Jack cheese, and/or use a can of Rotel instead of regular diced tomatoes.
Do I Need To Drain The Pasta?
No, you will not need to drain the pasta. This is a one-pot meal, meaning that everything cooks in the same pot. The extra liquid and broth will create the creamy sauce for the smoked sausage pasta. As it cooks, uncovered, the extra moisture will also be absorbed and evaporated and help the sauce thicken up.
Can I Add Additional Seasonings?
Yes! Feel free to add some Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, etc. Whatever you want to add, this dish is very versatile, and can take on whatever you want to put in it.
Smoked Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 16 ounces smoked sausage (kielbasa sausage) sliced thin
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 1 box (16 oz) penne pasta
- 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, over medium high heat, add the olive oil, smoked sausage, and onion. Cook until the sausage is browned and the onions have softened.1 tablespoon olive oil, 16 ounces smoked sausage (kielbasa sausage), 1 medium onion
- Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute or until very fragrant.3 garlic cloves
- Stir the dry penne pasta, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, dried thyme, salt & pepper into the sausage mixture in the pot.1 box (16 oz) penne pasta, 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer (medium low heat), stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking. Allow it to simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is al dente or softened to your liking and the excess liquid is absorbed.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese, and stir until the cheese is melted and combined.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Serve the pasta with chopped parsley, if wanted, and enjoy!chopped fresh parsley
Notes
-
- Smoked Sausage : Use any variety or flavor of smoked sausage that you prefer. You need 16 ounces (or 1 pound) of sausage for this recipe. Some smoked sausage is only 14 ounces, which is not quite 1 pound, but that’s what I use and it turns out just fine. It comes in a U shape and it’s also labeled as ‘kielbasa sausage’.
-
- Chicken Broth : Beef and vegetable broth are both excellent alternatives. I use full salted broth because pasta needs lots of salt or else it is just really bland.
-
- Penne Pasta : You can use any similar shaped pasta as penne; such as bow tie pasta, large or medium shell pasta, rotini pasta, or a gluten-free pasta.
-
- Cheddar Cheese : Other great alternatives are Colby Jack, Mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, white cheddar cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
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