Description
This One-Pot Tomato Sausage Pasta is a hearty, family-friendly meal that combines savory Italian sausage, tangy marinara, and tender penne pasta all cooked together for minimal prep and cleanup. The pasta simmers directly in the flavorful sauce, creating a thick, comforting dish ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Base
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Protein
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
Liquids & Sauce
- 2 tablespoons red wine
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce (such as Mutti’s®)
- 2 cups hot water
Pasta & Seasoning
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Melt the butter with olive oil in a large heavy sauce pot or non-reactive Dutch oven over medium-low heat to create a rich cooking base.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the minced onion and cook while stirring frequently until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and stir briefly just until fragrant to avoid burning.
- Cook the sausage: Add the mild Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, around 5 minutes, making sure to crumble the meat evenly.
- Deglaze the pan: Pour in the red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir well to incorporate the wine into the sausage and aromatics.
- Add the marinara sauce: Mix in the full jar of marinara sauce and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld together.
- Cook the pasta: Stir in the dry penne pasta directly into the simmering sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, then add 1 cup of hot water to loosen the sauce and help the pasta cook evenly.
- Simmer to finish: Test the pasta for doneness frequently while stirring and adding the remaining 1 cup of water as needed. Continue to simmer and stir to prevent sticking until the pasta is tender but still firm to your liking.
- Serve: Once the pasta is cooked through, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve in wide bowls and optionally sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese for a delicious finishing touch.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to prevent sauce scorching.
- Adjust water quantity slightly depending on your pasta’s absorption rate.
- Experiment with spicy Italian sausage for a more robust flavor.
- Leftovers reheat well and thicken; add a splash of water or broth when reheating.
- For a vegetarian version, replace sausage with sautéed mushrooms or plant-based sausage.
