12 Sausage Pasta Recipes for Easy Dinners

The best sausage pasta recipes – perfect for a quick and easy midweek dinner! When you’re in the mood for a cozy and comforting meal but you also need something that’ll be on the table in just 20 minutes or less, sausage pasta dishes tick all the right boxes. Whether you love smoky, spicy, or sweet sausage, this collection has something for everyone. These 12 recipes are comforting, flavorsome, and perfect for weeknight dinners – they’re also family friendly, so they’re ideal if you’re contending with fussy eaters! Let’s get straight into the recipes… 

1. Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

This Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta is a bold, flavorful dish with smoky sausage, a touch of spice, and a rich, creamy sauce. It’s a fantastic choice for when you want something that’s sure to be a crowdpleaser but is super simple to prepare. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 cup diced tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Cook penne according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté sausage until browned. Add Cajun seasoning and tomatoes.
3. Stir in cream and Parmesan, simmering until thickened. Add some of the pasta water if you like to achieve your desired consistency. Toss with penne and serve.

2. Sausage Alfredo Rigatoni

Rich and indulgent, this Sausage Alfredo Rigatoni features tender pasta, creamy Alfredo sauce, and savory sausage. Everyone loves alfredo, and this dish is no different!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz rigatoni pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage, removed from casing
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions:

1. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving some of the pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook sausage until browned. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, sauté garlic, then stir in cream and Parmesan. Add some of the pasta water if you need to loosen it up a little. Toss with rigatoni and sausage before serving.

3. Broccoli Chorizo Pasta

This Broccoli Chorizo Pasta is a smoky, veggie-packed dish that’s perfect for when you want a little hint of spice! Chorizo is super handy for keeping in the fridge for when you need to make a meal without many ingredients, and this dish is one that I often turn to when I need something that mainly uses store-cupboard ingredients. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz fusilli pasta
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 8 oz chorizo, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook fusilli according to package instructions, adding broccoli in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook chorizo until browned.
3. Toss pasta and broccoli with chorizo and sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve warm.

4. Italian Sausage Spaghetti

This Italian Sausage Spaghetti is a classic, comforting dish with a hearty tomato sauce and tender sausage.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb Italian sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Cook sausage until browned, then stir in garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Toss with spaghetti and serve.

5. Creamy Sausage and Tomato Rigatoni

This Creamy Sausage and Tomato Rigatoni is a rich, tangy dish that’s quick to whip up and full of flavor! 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz rigatoni pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Cook sausage until browned. Stir in tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan.
3. Toss with rigatoni and serve, garnished with some chopped parsley, if you like.

6. Italian Sausage Orzo

This Italian Sausage Orzo is a quick, one-pot wonder that’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with sausage goodness. It’s a great choice if you’re bored with your usual pasta dishes and you fancy trying something a little different!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 cup fresh spinach

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook sausage until browned. Add orzo and broth.
2. Simmer until orzo is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in Parmesan and spinach. Serve warm.

7. One Pot Tortellini with Sausage

This One Pot Tortellini with Sausage is creamy, cheesy, and perfect for a busy weeknight. Tortellini recipes have been hugely on trend over the past year and so, and I’m totally here for it. It’s a great staple ingredient to keep in the fridge for an easy meal, and it’s endlessly versatile! 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz cheese tortellini
• 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Cook sausage in a large skillet until browned. Stir in marinara and cream.
2. Add tortellini and simmer for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella and serve.

8. Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta

This Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a rich, garlicky sauce. Inspired by the marry me chicken trend that’s been going viral on TikTok lately, it’s a dish that my family request time and time again!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 cups fresh spinach

Instructions:

1. Cook penne according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving a little of the pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Cook sausage until browned, then stir in cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Add a little of the pasta water if you need to loosen up the sauce a little. Toss with penne and serve.

9. Italian Sausage Baked Ziti

This Italian Sausage Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food—cheesy, hearty, and bubbling with deliciousness. This is one of my go-to recipes for when I’m feeding a crowd and I need something that’s easy and fuss free! Just add some garlic bread and a fresh green salad, and you’ve got a beautiful spread. 

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 12 oz ziti pasta
• 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook ziti according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook sausage until browned. Stir in marinara sauce.
3. In a baking dish, layer ziti, sausage mixture, ricotta, and mozzarella. Repeat layers. Top with Parmesan.
4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until bubbly. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil. 

10. Sausage Pesto Pasta

This Sausage Pesto Pasta combines savory sausage with the fresh, herby goodness of pesto for a quick, flavorful dish. You’ll need just a few ingredients to make this one, so it’s a good option for those days  when you don’t have the time to make a trip to the grocery store. 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
• 1 lb Italian sausage, crumbled
• 1/2 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook sausage until browned. Remove from heat.
3. Toss pasta with pesto and sausage. Add cherry tomatoes if desired. Garnish with Parmesan and serve.

11. Creamy Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta

This Creamy Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta is packed with earthy mushrooms, fresh spinach, and flavorful sausage in a luscious sauce.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
• 1 lb sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook farfalle according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook sausage until browned. Add mushrooms and sauté until softened.
3. Stir in spinach, cream, and Parmesan. Simmer until sauce thickens. Add some pasta water if you need to loosen up the sauce a little. Toss with farfalle and serve.

12. Chicken Sausage Pasta

This Chicken Sausage Pasta is a lighter take on the classic sausage pasta but still loaded with flavor and heartiness!

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 12 oz rotini pasta
• 1 lb chicken sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook rotini according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook chicken sausage until browned. Add tomatoes and chicken broth, simmering for 5 minutes.
3. Toss pasta with the sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.

From creamy sauces to tangy tomato-based favorites, there’s a dish here for every mood and occasion. Which one will you be trying for dinner tonight?