• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Get my FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

New? Start Here
  • About
  • Videos
  • Shop

Project Meal Plan

Project Meal Plan is a food blog dedicated to make-ahead recipes, meal planning and preparing ahead.

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Popular
    • Meal Prep
    • Latest
    • Videos
  • Course
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
  • Dietary
    • Dairy Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Gluten Free
    • Paleo
  • Method
    • Baked
    • Stovetop
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • No Heat
  • Meal Prep
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Lunches
    • Breakfasts
    • Chicken
    • Beef & Pork
    • Tips & Tricks
    • All Meal Prep
Home Main Dish
30 30 Minutes or Less

One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta

Jump to Recipe
By: DanielleLeave a Comment Posted: 07/01/2020 Updated: 09/22/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is a weeknight dinner dream! Made with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, garlic, and Italian sausage, this family friendly dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes!
Jump to Recipe

one pot italian sausage pasta in a bowl with fresh parm on topDirty dishes seem to be never-ending, especially lately, since we’re cooking so much more at home. This is why I thought it was imperative to get some more one-pot meals in my rotation. 

This dish has a little of everything (noodles, veggies, meat, cheese!) with a not too heavy sauce that will shock you because it’s basically just pasta water and cheese 🤷‍♀️ Can’t argue with that!

What’s in this One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta?

  • spaghetti – This is the pasta of choice for this dish. I like using spaghetti for things other than spaghetti, cause why not?
  • Italian sausage – If you can find the kind with the mozzarella cheese inside, those are perfect. The cheese melts out when everything is cooking but since we don’t drain the pasta, the cheese stays, all soaked into the pasta and sauce.
  • sun-dried tomatoes – If you can find the kind in a bag that are just dried and not soaked in oil, that’s the way to go in my opinion. Less mess, less oil, and easy to chop.
  • garlic – Mince it, and don’t skip it! I love garlic. Use as much as you want.
  • olive oil – Helps keep the noodles from sticking together 🍝 
  • sea salt – To season!
  • water – To cook everything. The amount is specific and important!
  • baby spinach – Addin’ some veggies cause they’re important too.
  • parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese helps form the final sauce in the dish. You need this!
  • black pepper – Fresh ground black pepper is one of my favorite basic flavors and it helps give this dish some backbone!
  • red chili pepper flakes – How about just a little spice? Add as much as you want for a little kick. 

ingredients on a cutting board for the one pot italian sausage pasta

cooking the pasta, noodles, garlic and sundried tomatoes in a big pot with water

How do you make pasta all in one dish?

The best thing about this meal is it’s made all in one dish. But how do you do that with pasta? Normally you need one pot just to boil the water!

The trick is to use just the right amount of water for cooking the pasta and everything else. The water will do three main things:

  • evaporate during cooking
  • soak into the pasta and other ingredients
  • remain the make the sauce at the end

How do you make this One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta?

Start by combining the first round of ingredients in a giant pot over high heat: the noodles, sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, and water. Let that cook for 11-12 minutes while you stir occasionally to keep the pasta from sticking to itself.

After the first 11-12 minutes of cooking, the water in the pot should be reduced by about half. Next, add the spinach, and continue cooking.

The spinach should be completely wilted in about 3-4 minutes. At this point, almost all of the water should be reduced from the pot.

Remove the pot from heat and add the parmesan cheese, black pepper and chili pepper flakes. Stir until the cheese is melted and a thin sauce has formed from the remaining pasta water. Serve with additional parm and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

mixing cheese into the pasta

one pot italian sausage pasta just cooked in a big pot

What kind of sausage is best to use?

Any 10-12 ounce package of Italian sausage that you can easily slice will work for this recipe.

However, I specifically like the ones with the mozzarella cheese inside the sausages. The cheese will melt and look like it has disappeared during cooking. 

BUT, the cheese is still in the pot. And since we don’t drain any liquid off in this recipe, the cheese remains and helps flavor the pasta.

Would this One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta dish taste good as leftovers?

Yes! This meal is especially good cold from the fridge. Cold pasta is a quick an easy leftovers meal!

You can also reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a couple tablespoons of water so the pasta doesn’t dry out.

How long will this One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta last in the fridge?

This meal will last up to four days in the fridge after being cooked.

Is this meal freezer friendly?

I have not tested this meal after being in the freezer because we always eat it too fast! I’m unsure if it would thaw well due to the lack of sauce in the meal, but it might be worth a try. Let me know how it goes if you freeze this dish.

one pot italian sausage pasta plated with a fork

What are the benefits of one pot pasta?

One pot pasta dishes have some benefits that other pasta dishes just do not have! These include less dishes to clean, and less pots to watch on the stove!

Normally when I make pasta, I use one pot just for cooking the pasta, then everything gets mixed together in another pot. Not this time!

More quick dinner ideas from Project Meal Plan:

  • Easy Air Fryer Shrimp and Vegetables
  • Prep Ahead Rotisserie Chicken Nachos
  • Freezer Friendly Black Bean Burgers

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe
one pot italian sausage pasta just cooked in a big pot

One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta

Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Save Rate it
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 20 minutesTotal: 25 minutes

This One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is a weeknight dinner dream! Made with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, garlic, and Italian sausage, this family friendly dinner comes together in less than 30 minutes!

Scale:

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces dry spaghetti noodles
  • 10 ounces Italian sausage, sliced
  • 2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (dry, not packed in oil)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 + 1/2 cups water
  • 3 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried red chili pepper flakes (more to taste)

Instructions

  1. Cook sausage & pasta: In a large pot over high heat, add spaghetti, sausage, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt and water. Stir and bring to a boil uncovered, then reduce heat to medium high and cook for 10-11 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick.
  2. Add veggies & cheese: Add spinach to the pot and continue to cook for about 3-4 minutes while stirring, until the spinach is completely wilted and almost all of the water has reduced from the pot. Remove from heat and add the parmesan cheese, ground black pepper and red pepper flakes, then mix. A thin sauce will form from the remaining pasta water and cheese. Serve with additional parm and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

Equipment

Lodge 6 qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Buy Now →
oxo 9 inch tongs with silicone ends.

OXO 9-Inch Silicone Head Tongs

Buy Now →

Notes

Leftovers are really good as cold pasta salad or reheated on the stove top or microwave with a couple tablespoons of water. Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of dish
  • Calories: 520
  • Fat: 24g
  • Carbohydrates: 57g
  • Protein: 21g
© Author: Danielle
Cuisine: Italian-inspired Method: Stovetop
one pot italian sausage pasta just cooked in a big pot

Did You Make This?

I love seeing what you made! Leave a review below, and be sure to tag me at @ProjectMealPlan when you share a photo!

Tag me on Instagram

Rate recipe
Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

If you made this One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta, I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your post so I can see your creation, or use #projectmealplan to share! I’d love to see what you made! 

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Save
  • Email

About Danielle

Hi, I’m Danielle! My passion for meal planning was born from a desire to save money and reduce food waste, and I want to share it with you! Besides cooking and photography, I absolutely love my cats & dog, growing food in my yard, and cheesy sandwiches! Read More...

You May Also Like...

  • Cooked Mexican Quinoa in the Instant Pot.
    Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa
  • A delicious bowl of Incredibly Easy Pesto Pasta Salad - just 6 simple ingredients for the best make-ahead side dish! - ProjectMealPlan.com
    Incredibly Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
  • bowl of instant pot pumpkin spice oatmeal with some almond milk
    Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
  • 20 most popular instant pot chicken dinner recipes
    20 Most Popular Instant Pot Chicken Dinner Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Popular

air fryer boneless bbq chicken thighs on a plate with tongs.

Air Fryer Boneless BBQ Chicken Thighs

pancake mix cookies on a cooling rack.

Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix Cookies

Chicken Bacon Ranch Potato Bake

Chipotle Ground Turkey Skillet Meal Prep

In Season

finished trader joe's spring snack board seen from above.

Easy Trader Joe’s Spring Snack Board

air fryer french toast bites on a plate with cup of syrup.

Air Fryer French Toast Bites

Cilantro lime tahini dressing is perfect for salads and veggies!

Cilantro Lime Tahini Dressing

Chia Pudding Breakfast Parfaits Four Ways

Kodiak Cakes Peanut Butter & Jelly Baked Pancakes

chicken hummus plate meal prep lunches

Chicken & Hummus Plate Lunch Meal Prep

Hey, I'm Danielle. I made Project Meal Plan because being prepared and saving time are my favorite things. It doesn't hurt that I LOVE cooking and photography too. Learn More →

Veggie-Packed Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad (No-Mayo!) recipe - Full of tuna, chickpeas, and greek yogurt for a high protein make-ahead lunch! - ProjectMealPlan.com
cover photo with text how to cook frozen appetizers in an air fryer with onion rings and texas toast in the background.
meal prep unstuffed pepper bowls in glass 2 compartment containers.
explore

Free Meal Planning Resources

Weekly meal planner.
free downloads

Meal Planning Templates

Project meal plan
meal plan inspo

Join the Facebook Group

Favorite Cooking Tools
shop

Favorite Cooking Tools

10 Helpful Tips For Beginners
tips & tricks

10 Helpful Tips for Beginners

Explore Meal Prep

Breakfasts

Main Dishes

Tips & Tricks

Snacks

Lunches

Air Fryer

Instant Pot

Freezer Friendly

Meal Prep

Get My FREE Meal Prep Lunches eBook!

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2022 Project Meal Plan
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top