Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Name: Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta (One-Pan, 30 Minutes)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 (14 oz) package smoked kielbasa sausage, sliced; 1 medium onion, diced; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked; 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce; 3 cups beef broth; 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese; 2 tbsp milk; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta is a quick, one-pan weeknight dinner combining sliced kielbasa, rotini, tomato sauce, and melted Colby Jack cheese in under 30 minutes. It's budget-friendly, minimal cleanup, and requires no special skills.

🌍American 🏷️One-pan pasta 🏷️Smoked sausage 🏷️Kielbasa pasta 🏷️Cheesy pasta Weeknight dinner

🏷️

🏷️30-minute meal

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by cookinginthemidwest

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Ingredients

1 (14 oz) package smoked kielbasa sausage, sliced
1 medium onion, dicedoptional
1 tbsp minced garlic
3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
3 cups beef broth
2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
2 tbsp milk
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped for garnishoptional

11 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the sliced kielbasa and diced onion. Cook until the sausage is browned and the onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes.
2
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3
Stir in the uncooked pasta, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir everything together.
4
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover the skillet, and let it cook for about 12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
5
Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the shredded Colby Jack cheese and a splash of milk.
6
Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is creamy.
7
Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Slice the kielbasa on a slight bias for more surface area and better browning.
Stir the pasta every 5 minutes during cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even liquid absorption.
Add cheese off heat after pasta is tender to avoid clumping and ensure a smooth, creamy sauce.
Taste and season with salt and pepper at the very end; beef broth is salty, so go light initially.

Substitutions

Rotini → Penne or rigatoni (cooking time stays the same)
Beef broth → Chicken broth or vegetable broth (flavor will be lighter)
Tomato sauce → Diced tomatoes with juice (add 1–2 minutes to cooking time)
Colby Jack → Cheddar or Monterey Jack (melt similarly; adjust salt if using sharp varieties)