Julie Clark
Updated:
One Pot Sausage Pasta That Turns Out Perfect Every Time (Weeknight Ready)
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This one pot sausage pasta recipe is the kind of dinner you make when you need something quick that still feels like a real meal.
Everything cooks in one pan (like our lemon chicken orzo), including the pasta, so there’s no extra boiling step and fewer dishes at the end. The pasta simmers right in the sauce and broth, soaking up flavor as it cooks so every bite is hearty, saucy, and satisfying.
It’s ready in about 35 minutes and works well for busy weeknights, especially when you need something the whole family will eat without complaints. Try our salmon patties with spicy mayo, too!
This One-Pot Sausage Pasta Is What I Make When I Don’t Feel Like Cooking
Do you like one pot meals? One is chicken alfredo based. Then there’s hamburger helper lasagna, sloppy joe pasta and another is a lasagna skillet with kale. I love them because they are so versatile…and this new sausage pasta was a HIT with the family, especially when served with our cheesy garlic Hawaiian rolls.
What makes this a one pot meal? The pasta cooks right in the sauce.
Instead of boiling pasta separately, you add dry pasta directly to the skillet with broth and tomatoes. As it simmers, the pasta absorbs the liquid and releases starch, which helps thicken the sauce at the same time.
The key is:
- enough liquid to fully cook the pasta
- a gentle simmer (not a hard boil)
- stirring occasionally so nothing sticks
When done right, the pasta turns out tender, flavorful, and perfectly coated in sauce without needing a second pot.
Speaking of sheet pan dinners… Have you seen the recipes for Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken and Sheet Pan Apple Chicken? And try our old fashioned breakfast pie, too!
Enjoy! -Julie
What spaghetti sauce is best?
For this recipe you can use whatever pasta sauce is your favorite. We tend to look at the labels and choose sauces that are low in sugar. I love Rao’s marinara sauce when I’m in a pinch.
If we have enough time, we use our refined sugar free spaghetti sauce, ragu sauce or lasagna meat sauce. They are AMAZING and make simple recipes like these taste extra special.
How long does pasta take to cook in one pot?
In this recipe, the pasta takes about 15–18 minutes total.
That’s slightly longer than boiling pasta because it’s cooking in a smaller amount of liquid. Keep the mixture at a gentle simmer and stir every few minutes to prevent sticking.
You’ll know it’s done when:
- the pasta is tender but not mushy
- most of the liquid is absorbed
- the sauce looks slightly thickened and coats the pasta
If the pan looks dry before the sausage pasta is done, add a splash of broth and continue cooking.
Can you freeze sausage pasta?
Yes, you can freeze this one-pot pasta! Sausage pasta is very freezer-friendly. As a matter of fact, it makes fantastic meal prep lunches, too.
You will just need a few of the freezable meal prep containers; either glass or microwave safe BPA-free plastic.
Freezer Tip
After you make the sausage pasta, let it cool completely before you transfer it to freezable containers. Cooling food completely reduces the chance of condensation forming on the underside of the lid. If it’s left there, that moisture can drip onto the food, eventually causing freezer burn.
You may also love our other ground sausage recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook pasta directly in sauce?
Yes. Pasta can cook directly in sauce as long as there’s enough liquid. The pasta absorbs the broth and sauce as it cooks, which gives it more flavor than boiling in water. The key is keeping a gentle simmer and stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick.
Why is my pasta not cooking evenly?
This usually happens when the heat is too high or the sausage pasta isn’t stirred enough.
Keep the pan at a gentle simmer and stir every few minutes so all the pasta stays submerged in liquid. If needed, add a little extra broth to help it cook evenly.
One-Pot Sausage Pasta
This sausage pasta recipe is super easy to make because everything cooks together in one pan. Our one-pot pasta recipe makes an easy, family favorite weeknight dinner. It’s freezer-friendly, too.
Servings 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage or spicy if you’d like
- ½ onion chopped (about ⅓ cup)
- 2 cloves garlic minced (1 teaspoon minced)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 cups penne pasta* uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
- 16 ounces spaghetti sauce* about 2 cups
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese, basil and/or parsley to garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm oil. Add in ground sausage, onions and garlic. Cook and stir until the sausage browns completely. Drain off any fat. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage, ½ onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Add in Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes with juice, dry pasta and chicken broth. Stir and allow to come to a gentle simmer over medium low heat. 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes, 2 cups penne pasta*, 2 cups chicken broth
- Cover the pan and let it cook covered for 8 minutes, then stir. Make sure the pasta is cooking and not sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cover again and let the pasta cook for an additional 4 minutes.
- Remove the lid and add in the spaghetti sauce. Continue cooking uncovered, stirring often, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. The sauce should lightly coat the pasta and not look watery. If needed, add a splash of broth to finish cooking the pasta without drying it out. 16 ounces spaghetti sauce*
- Remove from the heat. Top with Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves or parsley. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. salt and black pepper, Parmesan cheese, basil and/or parsley
Notes
*I used whole wheat pasta.
*I used Rao’s marinara sauce. *For more spice, add red pepper flakes. For more flavor, try adding fennel seed or oregano. Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks. The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the pasta. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
*I used Rao’s marinara sauce. *For more spice, add red pepper flakes. For more flavor, try adding fennel seed or oregano. Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks. The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the pasta. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1085mg | Potassium: 834mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 548IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 4mg
I have made this meal SEVERAL times. My family loves it.
Question about your nutrition break down. What is the serving size?
Thank you!
My son absolutely loved this – he went back for thirds (he’s a skinny particular eater). It’s easy to make (it’s all in one pot, after all) and quick for a weeknight dinner. I didn’t have canned tomatoes, so I added a full jar of Rao’s instead. It was delicious.
I was able to cook this outside on a propane burner when local construction caused some unscheduled power outages. Thank you so much for suce an easy recipe!
I’m confused… am I supposed to just add dry pasta or does it need to be cooked first? Lol
This recipe turned out great! Thank you!