Smoked Sausage Pasta
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!
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
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- 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'.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Cheddar Cheese : Other great alternatives are Colby Jack, Mozzarella cheese, Pepper Jack, white cheddar cheese, or sharp cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 596kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 1177mg | Potassium: 469mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 722IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 202mg | Iron: 2mg
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