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This Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage is a simple dinner recipe packed with flavor and a bit of spice! An easy dinner for a cozy weeknight but also perfect to serve to guests. This recipe uses the oil from the sun dried tomatoes to cook the sausage in adding so much extra flavor!
This delicious Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta dinner with Italian Sausages covers all the dinner necessities in our house.
Pasta recipes seem to never get any complaints in our house and this one always is a winner for a simple dinner that is a whole meal in one big bowl!
Sun-dried tomatoes add such incredible flavor to any recipe that you add them to. Packed in oil and spices, they are so perfectly rich. They are incredible in Turkey Burgers , Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad and these Freezer Friendly Breakfast Sandwiches— and this pasta recipe, of course!
Why We Love This Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta REcipe
This pasta recipe is just so simple but the flavor packed into one bowl of pasta is just WOW if you ask me!
This sun-dried tomato and Italian sausage pasta is:
- simple to prep
- has your protein, carbs and veggies all in one dish
- can easily be varied by adding other veggies, leaving out the meat, using gluten free pasta, and more
- it’s pasta–enough said, ha!
Hope you love this one as much as we do!
Ingredient Notes
See full list of ingredients with exact measurements below in the recipe card.
- Lots of pasta options, use what you have! Rotini, bow ties, penne and more. Use a gluten free pasta if necessary.
- You want the sun-dried tomatoes that are jarred in oil for this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe. I use the Italian herb variation.
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese will work better than the pre-shredded in terms of melting into the sauce. Pre-shredded cheese has cellulose to keep it from clumping and it just doesn’t melt quite the same.
- Easily adjust the spice level of this dish by using a mild, sweet or spicy Italian sausage. You can also use links–you can squeeze the sausage out of the casing or you can brown the sausages, slice and toss in!
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Bring pot of water to a boil. Add pasta to cook al dente according to package instructions. While pasta cooks, heat 1 Tbsp sun-dried tomato oil over medium-high heat in sauté pan. Add the Italian sausage and brown while breaking into small pieces. Once browned, remove from pan and drain excess grease. Set aside.
Step 2: Remove about 1 cup of pasta water before draining and pour the hot pasta over the spinach to allow it to wilt.
Step 3: Add the other tablespoon of tomato oil and sauté garlic for about 1 minute. Add tomatoes sauté for another minute.
Step 4: Add broth and spices/seasoning and simmer for about 3-4 minute, stirring frequently allowing it to cook down just a bit.
Step 5: Add cream and parmesan. Simmer to reduce slightly and allow the sauce to begin to thicken, Slowly add in the pasta water, about ¼ cup at a time allowing it come to desired thickness.
Step 6: Add in meat and pasta and toss to combine and allow the sauce to evenly coat. Serve topped with more grated parmesan and freshly chopped basil (optional).
Recipe Tips
- For a saucier dish, you can lessen the amount of pasta by a couple ounces. You can also add up to double the amount of cream, broth and parmesan to make it extra saucy and creamy!
- Make this a vegetarian meal, or even vegan. Use a plant-based sausage and skip parmesan on top. You are all set!
- When re-heating leftovers, toss with a drizzle of olive oil or add some more cream if the pasta seems a bit dry.
Time Saving Tips
- Use pre-cooked sausages. We always keep pre-cooked sausages around to slice up and toss into recipes. Trader Joe’s Italian Chicken Sausages are one of my favorites!
- Ready to go pasta. There are lots of ready to go, microwavable pastas out there these days. A great way to save time! You won’t have the starchy water if you use this pasta, but you can make a substitute by whisking 1/4 tsp of cornstarch in 1 cup of cold water until smooth.
- Meal prep earlier in the week. You can make everything early in the week and then eat off of it during the week for dinner!
Other PAsta Recipes
- Creamy One Pot Pasta
- Simple Ground Beef Skillet
- Easy No Boil Lasagna
- One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Pumpkin Ricotta Pasta Bake
- 15 Minute Tomato Basil Gnocchi
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Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp sun dried tomato oil
- 12 oz short pasta, uncooked, I used penne
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- ¾ cup sun dried tomatoes in italian herbs, removed from the oil, but ok if some it still on it
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ – ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated, more as desired
- ½ – ¾ cup pasta water
- 2 large handfuls baby spinach
- 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper, more or less based on desired spice
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Bring pot of water to a boil. Add pasta to cook al dente according to package instructions.
- While pasta cooks, heat 1 Tbsp sun-dried tomato oil over medium-high heat in sauté pan. Add the Italian sausage and brown while breaking into small pieces. Once browned, remove from pan and drain excess grease. Set aside.
- Remove about 1 cup of pasta water before draining and pour the hot pasta over the spinach to allow it to wilt.
- Add 1 T tomato oil and sauté garlic for about 1 minute. Add tomatoes sauté for another minute. Add broth and spices/seasoning and simmer for about 3-4 minute, stirring frequently allowing it to cook down just a bit.
- Add cream and parmesan. Simmer to reduce slightly and allow the sauce to begin to thicken, Slowly add in the pasta water, about ¼ cup at a time allowing it come to desired thickness.
- Add in meat and pasta and toss to combine and allow the sauce to evenly coat. Serve topped with more grated parmesan and freshly chopped basil.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I am so glad you’ve got me hooked on Modern Table – I love all of their pasta options! This recipe is one of my faves!
So hearty!
The best! THanks!
I am in love with sun dried tomatoes but have never thought about using them in pasta. I will forever be adding them in my pasta from now on! SO GOOD!
You will be so happy you did!
Modern Table pasta is one of my favs!!
Same! I also am obsessed with the shape of this one!
You know the way to this Italian girl’s heart!!
Ha, and my Italian Hubby’s as well
This has some of my favorite ingredients for pasta night, and I love the protein in this pasta!!! Thanks!
Yea, I am a big fan of lentils so it works for me!