One Pan Cheesy Sausage Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
This one pan cheesy sausage pasta cooks Italian sausage, pasta shells, tomato sauce, and sharp cheddar all in one pot for an easy, creamy weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes. The ultimate one pot sausage pasta the whole family loves.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups beef bone broth
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 16 oz medium pasta shells dry
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it into pieces, until no pink remains.
- Stir in the Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir to coat the sausage evenly.
- Pour in the beef bone broth and tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer.
- Once the liquid is bubbling, add the dry pasta shells. Stir, cover with a lid, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until the pasta is cooked through, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and freshly shredded cheddar until fully melted and combined.
- Simmer uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Shred the cheddar fresh from the block. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly and can leave the sauce grainy. Freshly shredded melts into the pasta cleanly every time.
- Stir the pasta a couple of times while it cooks in the broth to keep the shells from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Make sure the liquid is at a full simmer before adding the dry pasta. Adding it to liquid that is not hot enough extends the cook time and can cause the pasta to absorb unevenly.
- Beef bone broth adds a deeper, richer flavor than regular chicken or vegetable broth here. It is worth using if you have it.
- The pasta will continue absorbing liquid as it sits. If it thickens too much before serving, stir in a small splash of broth or cream to loosen it.
