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4.9 from 108 votes

Sausage Pasta

A super quick meal made using chopped Italian Sausages that end up looking like mini meatballs! The sausages are the flavour base for this sauce, so get the best quality ones you can afford. Look for sausages where you can see little white chunks of fat and seasoning. Avoid the cheap sausages that are a uniform pink colour.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 585 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American , Italian-American Fussion

Ingredients

  • 250 g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta (Note 1)
  • 500 g / 1 lb good Italian sausages , or other quality sausages of choice
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion , finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato (or tomato passata)
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 - 2 big handfuls baby spinach (optional)
Garnish:
  • basil leaves , finely sliced
  • parmesan

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Cook pasta per packet directions MINUS 1 -2 minutes.
  2. Just before you drain, RESERVE 1 cup of pasta cooking water. Then drain pasta.
  3. Use a sharp knife to cut sausages into chunks about 1.5cm/3/5". It will get a bit smeary and the chunks will be weird shapes - don't worry, it self fixes while cooking!
  4. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add sausages and cook until quite browned on the outside, doesn't have to be cooked through inside.
  5. Add onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent and sausages are very browned.
  6. Add tomato, chilli flakes, pinch of salt and pepper. Mix and turn heat down to medium. Lets it bubble away energetically for 8 minutes or until it is quite thickened, stirring every now and then.
  7. Add baby spinach (if using), pasta, and about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Toss quickly, no longer than 1 minute (otherwise the pasta may start to break).
  8. Remove from stove, and serve immediately, garnished with plenty of basil and parmesan. Enjoy!

Notes

  • I find that 250g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta is sufficient to serve 4 people because it seems to expand in volume more than strand pastas because of the shape. If you want to use more pasta, add about 1 tbsp tomato pasta + 1/4 cup water for every extra 50g / 2 oz of pasta. Also you can use any shaped pasta you want!
  • WORKFLOW: Fill large pot with water, while it comes to the boil, chop and brown the sausages. Then while the pasta is cooking, finish the sauce. If you can manage this multi tasking, you'll get this on the table in just over 15 minutes!
  • Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings.

Nutrition Information

Serving 401g Calories 585cal (29%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 585

% Daily Value*

Serving 401g
Calories 585cal 29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.