One Bite of This Italian Sausage Pasta Skillet, and You'll Be Hooked!

Italian Sausage Pasta Skillet: Simple, Tasty, and Affordable

Italian food is a favorite for so many, and this Italian Sausage Pasta Skillet is no different. Trust me—you’ll be hooked! It’s so easy to make and absolutely loaded with flavor, plus most of the ingredients are pantry staples you likely already have on hand. To make things even better, it’s budget-friendly and can be made for under $10 to feed your whole family. With just one pot and a quick cooking time, this is the perfect dish for busy nights when you want something delicious without all the fuss. Let’s get started!

The Sausage Makes It!

I love sausage of all kinds, but I have to admit, Italian sausage is definitely top on my list. It’s so important to use an Italian sausage you love the flavor of because it’s going to be the ultimate flavor booster for this recipe. I’ve sampled all kinds of Italian sausage (to my pleasure, lol), and let me tell you, they all taste different! So, don’t be afraid to try out different types to find what works best for your taste buds. Now, when it comes to cooking, in my video, I actually took the sausage out of the casing, almost like ground meat, and browned it. But my personal preference is to cook the links in the casing and slice them before adding the other ingredients. Cooking outside of the casing is quicker though, so if you’re in a hurry, this is a great tip to save time. But trust me, you’ll want to make this again and again! Another trick for even quicker prep is to precook the sausage and freeze it. This eliminates the time spent cooking the sausage on the day you’re making it, and the best part is that it can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. Don’t drain too much of the oil though—the flavor from the sausage is packed in that little bit of grease!

Watch Me Make this....

Watch My Family and I test Italian Sausages....

You didn’t come this far to stop

Pasta: Choose What You Love

Do you have a favorite pasta? If so, go ahead and use it! Personally, I prefer tube-shaped pasta like rigatoni, penne, or something similar. But like most things with me, it’s really whatever I have on hand that fits my fancy at the time. There are also two different ways to cook the pasta for this dish. You can opt for the one-pot method by adding the uncooked pasta to the pot after all the other ingredients have been added, or you can cook the pasta separately and add it to the nearly finished dish. The second method helps you control the texture of the pasta, but the one-pot version works just as well and is a huge time-saver. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of pasta—wheat, chickpea, or even veggie pasta. You never know, it might just take the dish to the next level and hook you even more. Lol!

Tomatoes, Veggies, and All the Flavor Boosters

There are so many ways to go with the tomatoes in this dish, but I decided to use fire-roasted tomatoes because I just love the flavor they bring. However, you can also use crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes—whatever you prefer. Just don’t drain the juice from the can; it’s definitely needed to bring that rich, tomato flavor to life. I also add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, which intensifies the tomato flavor and helps it stick to the pasta—yum! When it comes to bell peppers, you can use any variety, just keep in mind that they all have slightly different flavors. I chose red because it’s milder and a little sweeter, but mixing them up is also a great option. The texture of your veggies is totally up to you too. I like my peppers firmer, so I add them toward the end of cooking, but if you prefer everything soft, feel free to cook all the veggies at once. I also use chopped garlic instead of minced for a little extra bite. Oh, and the diced tomatoes I used had garlic in them too, but I’ve made this with plain diced tomatoes, and it’s just as good. Just a heads up: this isn’t a super saucy recipe like spaghetti—it has just the right amount of sauce to hug the pasta, and trust me, it does exactly that.

A Quick, Flavorful, and Adaptable Meal!

This Italian Sausage Pasta Skillet is perfect for a quick dinner, and trust me—you’ll be hooked. This recipe hits all the checkmarks: budget-friendly? Check. Flavorful? Check. Quick? Check. And finally, adaptable? Check! Think about all the other wonderful ingredients you could add to really make this dish your own. Mushrooms, spinach, kale, carrots—you name it! Not to mention the fun toppings for the finished dish. I love topping mine with freshly grated Parmesan, but you could also use a blend of Italian cheeses, like mozzarella and Parmesan, for a little extra flavor. And for sides (if you need them), try sautéed squash, broccoli, or even some freshly baked bread or rolls brushed with garlic butter. After this meal, you’ll be kicking back, patting your belly with your feet up! So, what are you waiting for? Get those ingredients out of the cabinet and get to cooking!

Fresh Bread Recipe! Perfect for this meal.