Description
This Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta is a hearty, flavorful one-pot meal combining savory sausage, tender pasta, and creamy cheese in a rich tomato and broth sauce. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner packed with comforting flavors and minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 14 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes
- ½ cup milk
- 8 ounces uncooked penne or similar pasta
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: Add olive oil to a large skillet and warm over medium heat, preparing for cooking the sausage.
- Cook kielbasa and onion: Add the sliced kielbasa and diced onion to the skillet and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring regularly, until the sausage is lightly browned and onions begin to soften.
- Add garlic and seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning; cook for 30 seconds while stirring constantly to release the aromas.
- Add liquids and pasta: Pour in the reduced-sodium chicken broth, diced Italian tomatoes, milk, uncooked penne pasta, and ground black pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Bring to boil and simmer pasta: Increase heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Remove from heat and add cheese: Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Season to taste: Adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper as desired before serving.
Notes
- Kielbasa: You can substitute with a similar sausage like turkey kielbasa for a lighter option.
- Italian seasoning: Feel free to increase the amount for a more robust herb flavor.
- Chicken broth: Using reduced-sodium broth allows better control over saltiness in the dish.
- Italian tomatoes: Italian seasoned diced tomatoes add extra flavor, but regular diced tomatoes can also be used.
- Milk: Any type of milk from skim to whole will work depending on your preference for creaminess.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese is a tasty alternative if you don’t have Cheddar-Jack blend.
- Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on specific ingredient brands and portion sizes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
