Easy spicy sausage penne pasta: The tender penne pasta, golden sauteed sausage, and irresistible tomato sauce combine to make the perfect spicy sausage pasta.
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If you are looking for a quick and flavorful dinner option featuring sausage, you will LOVE this recipe.
With simple steps and easily available ingredients, you can create a restaurant-worthy spicy Italian sausage pasta right at home.
It's light, comforting, and can be ready in 30 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners.
I absolutely love this sausage pasta. It's such a huge hit every time I make it.
I like it mildly spicy, but the spiciness can be altered to taste.
Although the pasta recipe is great, it's the sauce that steals the show. It's so flavorful that it can go with almost anything added to it.
I prefer to cook the pasta and the sauce separately. However, you can cook them together in one pan if desired.
Like pasta? My Gigi Hadid Pasta Recipe could be right up your alley.
Ingredients You will need
Pasta: I used penne pasta for this recipe, but any short pasta variety will work, like rigatoni, fusilli, or farfalle.
Sausage: I used chicken sausages and sliced them into ½-inch thick slices. You can also use turkey or pork sausages. Spicy, mild, or sweet Italian sausage or Italian sausage links (remove the casings and crumble the sausage) will also work. You can even use plant-based sausage for a vegan or vegetarian version.
Onion and garlic: aromatics for the essential flavor base.
Olive oil and butter: I love using both olive oil and butter in this recipe. Adding a bit of butter will enhance the taste. However, you can use only olive oil or only butter if you prefer.
Tomato paste: for the thick, smooth consistency and the rich, intense tomato flavor. Use a good quality tomato paste.
Red chili flakes: dried and crushed red chili peppers add a spicy kick to the pasta dish. Use more or less as per your spice tolerance.
Paprika: for the bright red color and flavor. I used sweet paprika, but smoked or hot paprika also works.
Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning goes nicely with the zesty tomato garlic flavor. If you don't have them, you can also opt for a combination of dried thyme, oregano, and basil.
Chicken stock cube: chicken stock cube is the concentrated and dehydrated form of chicken stock or broth. It contributes to the overall flavor profile of the sausage pasta sauce.
Sugar: to balance the tangy tomato flavor.
Salt: as needed.
Parmesan: freshly grated parmesan for topping it off.
How to make the Best Spicy Sausage Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water. The water should be slightly salty.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until it's al dente (cooked but still slightly firm).
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water for the sauce, drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over high heat. Add the sliced sausages and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the sausages to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add butter. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
- Add chili flakes and saute for a couple of seconds.
- Add tomato paste and stir the tomato paste for 2 minutes.
- Add pasta water, stir to mix, and bring it to a boil.
- Add the sauteed sausages, salt, sugar, paprika, Italian seasoning, and chicken stock cube. Stir to mix and simmer everything over low flame for a minute to allow all the flavors to combine.
- Add the pasta, mix well and turn off the flame.
- Serve hot, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and additional dried red pepper flakes, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- This recipe variation for spicy sausage pasta includes additional vegetables like red bell pepper, mushrooms, and broccoli to add more nutrition and flavor.
- Just be sure to stir-fry them in advance and mix in the sauce while adding the sausage.
- You can also customize the recipe by adding different types of pasta.
What to serve with this Sausage Pasta
- Pasta with sausage is a satisfying meal on its own but you can always serve it with crusty bread, breadsticks, garlic bread, sourdough bread, or dinner rolls.
- Additionally, a side salad or roasted vegetable can be a wonderful pairing.
Leftovers and Storage
- Put the leftover sausage pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, sprinkle some water or chicken broth on it and heat it in a microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- For meal prep, store the sausage pasta sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Mix with cooked pasta as needed.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- No red chili flakes? Crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can also be used. Cayenne pepper is usually much hotter than chili flakes, so use sparingly.
- Tomato paste substitute: Blanch, peel, and puree 2-3 ripe tomatoes, or use 1 cup tomato puree. When cooking, make sure to simmer the puree until it reduces to ⅓ its original amount. This might take a bit longer to cook, but it's important for the right consistency.
- Cook the sausage slices in a single layer on medium-high flame to get a perfectly golden coating.
- Adjust chili flakes to suit your spice tolerance.
- Taste and adjust the sauce to your liking before adding the pasta.
FAQ
Yes, you can cook raw sausage in pasta sauce. But I suggest you cook the sausage first in the pan until browned for the best taste. Browning makes the outside crispy and keeps the inside moist, making the sausage more delicious and enjoyable to eat.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Peanut Butter Ramen Noodles
- 10-Minute Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
- Black Pepper Chicken
- Honey Sriracha Chicken
- Kung Pao Shrimp
If you try the recipe, please take a moment to leave a comment and rating. I love hearing from you and it also helps other readers who are thinking of making the recipe.
Recipe
Easy Spicy Sausage Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 ounces 114 gram/1 cup penne pasta uncooked
- 6 chicken sausage sliced into ½ inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small size onion finely chopped
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced (1 tablespoon garlic)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 chicken stock cube
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes add more or less as needed
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon sugar to balance the flavor
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water. The water should be slightly salty.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until it's al dente (cooked but still slightly firm).
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water for the sauce, drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over high heat. Add the sliced sausages and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the sausages to a plate and set aside.
- In the same pan, add butter. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant.
- Add chili flakes and saute for a couple of seconds.
- Add tomato paste and stir the tomato paste for 2 minutes.
- Add pasta water, stir to mix, and bring it to a boil.
- Add the sauteed sausages, salt, sugar, paprika, Italian seasoning, and chicken stock cube. Stir to mix and simmer everything over low flame for a minute to allow all the flavors to combine.
- Add the pasta, mix well and turn off the flame.
- Serve hot, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and additional dried red pepper flakes, if desired.
Notes
- No red chili flakes? Crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can also be used. Cayenne pepper is usually much hotter than chili flakes, so use sparingly.
- Tomato paste substitute: Blanch, peel, and puree 2-3 ripe tomatoes, or use 1 cup tomato puree. When cooking, make sure to simmer the puree until it reduces to ⅓ its original amount. This might take a bit longer to cook, but it's important for the right consistency.
- Cook the sausage slices in a single layer on medium-high flame to get a perfectly golden coating.
- Adjust chili flakes to suit your spice tolerance.
- Taste and adjust the sauce to your liking before adding the pasta.
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