One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pastais a decadent and rich one-pot meal, full of melty cheese and bites of summer sausage, and perfect for an easy meal at home when you don’t want a lot of cleanup!

If you’re not on the one pot meal train yet, hop right on, friend!One pot meals are glorious life savers because they require little prep, are easy to cook, and take hardly any cleanup.Since my time is limited between raising 5 little ones and running my blog, convenience is practically my middle name. And I know I’m not the only one out there who’s busy and just needs a simple, wholesome meal most nights of the week!Can I get an amen?

The thing that I just love about this pasta dish is it’s so rich and hearty, and you can customize it as much as you’d like. If you’re not a fan of cooked spinach, use peas or chopped zucchini instead! Throw in any cheese that melts well if cheddar’s not your style, and you can use whatever cut of pasta or any type of sausage that you love. It’s truly a one pot wonder that you can make your own, and that’s something to celebrate! (And if this recipe doesn’t speak to you, here’s a whole bunch ofone pot mealsfor you to choose from.)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Budget-Friendly: Pasta dishes are usually budget-friendly, and this recipe is no exception. With simple ingredients and a super easy cooking method, it’s not even that much harder than throwing in that frozen pizza but it will be easier on your wallet!
Versatile: Change up the kind of sausage, use a different kind of cheese, add the veggies you need to use up or love the most, and whatever package of pasta you have on hand. You really can customize this recipe to suit what you have and like.
Comfort Food: There’s just something comforting about a cheesy pasta dish! This is a great one to serve on one of those nights when you just want to eat something cozy and delicious.

Ingredients

Smoked Summer Sausage: or substitute your favorite sausage, ground beef, chicken or whatever else you like or have on hand
Onion
Minced Garlic
Chicken Broth
A Can of Diced Tomatoes
Dry Pasta
Salt & Pepper
Shredded Cheese:something like cheddar or cheddar-jack is great, but use whatever good melting cheese you like here
Red Pepper Flakes:totally optional but they give it just a touch of heat which is so yummy
Fresh Baby Spinach

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Popular Substitutions or Variations

SO MANY!You can change out the kind of meat, shape of pasta, kind of cheese, switch the veggies or add some more. Get creative or just clean out the fridge!

How to Make One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta

Step #1.In a large skillet with a lid, sauté the sausage until browned then set aside. Add the onion and olive oil to the same skillet and cook for a few minutes then add the garlic. Add the broth and scrape the bottom.

Step #3.Remove the lid and stir in the cheese, red pepper flakes, and spinach until the cheese is melted.

Step #2.To the broth, add the tomatoes, pasta, water, salt, & pepper. Stir to combine then cover. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is done.

Step #4.Return the sausage to the pan and stir it in. Serve!

Recipe FAQs

Can you boil pasta in a skillet?

Normally, I wouldn’t advise cooking pasta in a skillet unless it’s a one pot meal like this. It’s more shallow and fits less pasta, and it’s hard to drain from a skillet, which is why most people prefer to use a pot instead. But since you’re not draining the pasta in this recipe, skillet cook away!

How do you cook pasta without draining water?

Doing a one pot pasta is the only way I know of that you can cook pasta without draining water. The water and other liquid cook the pasta and then cook down into a nice, thick sauce, so draining it isn’t necessary here.

Can you put basil in pasta?

You can! That would be incredible in this recipe. I love, love, love fresh herbs, and basil or any other green herbs would go great in this. Add them the same time you’d add the spinach.

How long does one pot cheesy sausage pasta last for?

If you have leftovers, let them cool and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. This is a great dish to make two batches of and keep one in the freezer (for up to 2 months) to have a full meal ready to go later on.

Expert Tips

You will want to taste this recipe andadjust the salt & pepper to taste, especially if you change up the ingredients quite a bit. The salt level in the different meats and cheeses will vary!
Make sure the pasta is truly simmering while it cooks. If the heat is too high, the liquid will evaporate too quickly and the pasta will stick to the pan.Keep the heat low and the lid on!
Different pasta shapes take different cooking times.Be sure to taste test a piece to make sure it is done before serving.