Description
Savory “Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta” delivers a hearty symphony of flavors that dance across comfort food lovers’ palates. Rich smoky sausage and melted cheese create a quick weeknight dinner promising warmth and satisfaction for hungry families.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) smoked turkey sausage, sliced
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (8 oz) dry pasta (rotini, penne, or farfalle)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes (with or without chiles, like Rotel)
Flavor Enhancers and Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 2–3 fresh cloves)
- ½ cup milk or heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup sliced scallions, for garnish
Instructions
- Slice smoked sausage and chop onions into uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature until shimmering.
- Introduce sliced sausage and onions to the pan, allowing them to caramelize and develop rich golden edges.
- Mince garlic and quickly incorporate into the sausage mixture, releasing its aromatic essence for approximately 30 seconds.
- Pour chicken broth, diced tomatoes with their juices, and milk into the skillet, creating a flavorful cooking liquid.
- Add uncooked pasta directly into the liquid, seasoning with salt and pepper for balanced flavor.
- Increase heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cover the skillet and allow the pasta to cook, absorbing the savory liquid for roughly 15 minutes until perfectly tender.
- Remove from heat and fold in half of the designated cheese, stirring until smoothly integrated.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese across the top of the pasta, creating a melty blanket.
- Let the dish rest, covered, for 5 minutes to ensure complete cheese melting.
- Garnish with thinly sliced scallions for a fresh, sharp contrast.
- Serve immediately while warm and bubbling.
Notes
- Choose a smoked sausage with robust flavor like Andouille or kielbasa for extra depth in your pasta dish.
- Lower the sodium by selecting low-sodium chicken broth and using less added salt during cooking.
- Swap regular pasta with whole wheat or gluten-free alternatives to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
- Create a lighter version by using half-and-half or Greek yogurt instead of whole milk, reducing overall calorie
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg