Spicy Sausage Cherry Tomato Pasta
on Aug 19, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links! For more info, check out our privacy policy.
Looking for a delicious weeknight meal? Try this Italian spicy sausage cherry tomato pasta, tossed with basil and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s vibrant, has a ton of flavor, summery, has a hint of spice from the sausage, and tang from the sun-dried tomatoes.
If you’re looking for more pasta recipes similar to this sausage tomato pasta, be sure to check out Braised Lamb Ragu Rigatoni, and Pea and Mint Orzo Risotto.
Ingredients you Need for Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Pasta: We love any short-cut pasta for this recipe! We are using rigatoni, but you can use anything such as penne pasta, lumache, or orecchiette as some options.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes: While optional here, the addition of sun-dried tomatoes adds a lovely tang and bright element to this pasta dish. You’ll barely know it’s there, but it adds a depth of flavor to this pasta. We are also using sun-dried tomato oil as the base of this sauce with garlic instead of extra-virgin olive oil.
Pork Sausage: By using spicy Italian sausage in this recipe, there is no need for red pepper flakes or chili flakes. If you opt to use a sweet Italian sausage (which you can too!), use red pepper flakes for some added heat. If you don’t want to use pork sausage, subbing with chicken sausage, ground beef or ground lamb is a great alternative.
Cherry Tomatoes: When tomatoes are in season, these bursts of flavor make the most delicious sauce, just like our Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. If you can’t find cherry tomatoes in season, or you want to make this year-round, opt to use Roma tomatoes, or any canned tomato of your choice.
Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese: To finish off the sauce, we are adding parmesan in the sauce with pasta water, and then finished to top with more.
Fresh basil leaves: The aroma from the fresh basil being tossed in and wilted right before serving adds really nice flavor. Serve with a few more basil leaves.
Instructions to Make this Easy Pasta Recipe
Cook your Pasta: In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, salt generously, and cook your rigatoni according to the package instructions, just 1 to 2 minutes before al dente. Drain your pasta, and set aside about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
In the meantime, make your sauce: In another medium skillet, heat a drizzle of sundried tomato oil over medium to medium-high heat. Then add your sausage in large chunks. Allow the sausage to slightly brown before using a spatula to mash the sausage into smaller pieces. I like to keep them into smaller chunks, and not into fine crumbles. Brown for 4 to 5 minutes, tossing occasionally until a nice golden crust forms on the sausage.
Add in your tomatoes, garlic, pepper, and salt. Toss to combine and allow the tomatoes to burst to create your sauce. Use the back of a spatula to squish and burst them, if needed, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Add Pasta Water and Assemble: Transfer about 1/4 cup of pasta water into the sauce, along with your pasta. Stir to combine and add in your parmesan cheese. Finish with a toss of basil leaves, adjusting with salt, pepper, and pasta water, as needed to taste.
Serve: Serve in bowls, topping with more parmesan, and basil leaves.
Tips, Tricks and Substitutions
No, when you remove the casing and cook and crisp the sausage with the rest of the pasta components, the sausage will fully cook!
You can add any of your other favorite veggies, like broccoli, zucchini, broccolini, or spinach. Any leafy green would work really well in this pasta dish.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, either place in the microwave, or reheat on the stovetop in a pot.
Any crisp salad would work really well here, such as our Little Gem Caesar Salad with Panko Breadcrumbs, or Radicchio Salad with Chives and Hazelnuts. Herb and Calabrian Chili Garlic Bread works great here, too.
More Pasta Recipes
If you do make this Italian Spicy Sausage Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe (first of all, thank you!!), be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and through social media so I can be sure to see what you’re making! If you’d like to stay in touch and get the latest to your inbox, sign up for our Newsletter here as well!
In addition, we can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Spicy Sausage Cherry Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound rigatoni, or short-cut pasta of choice
- 1 tablespoon sundried tomato oil, plus 1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, about 1 pound
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Toss in fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Once boiling, salt generously, and cook your rigatoni according to the package instructions, just 1 to 2 minutes before al dente. Drain your pasta, and set aside about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- In the meantime, make your sauce. In another medium skillet, heat a drizzle of sundried tomato oil over medium to medium-high heat. Then add your sausage in large chunks. Allow the sausage to slightly brown before using a spatula to mash the sausage into smaller pieces. I like to keep them into smaller chunks, and not into fine crumbles. Brown for 4 to 5 minutes, tossing occasionally until a nice golden crust forms on the sausage.
- Add in your tomatoes, garlic, pepper, and salt. Toss to combine and allow the tomatoes to burst to create your sauce. Use the back of a spatula to squish and burst them, if needed, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer about 1/4 cup of pasta water into the sauce, along with your pasta. Stir to combine and add in your parmesan cheese. Finish with a toss of basil leaves, adjusting with salt, pepper, and pasta water, as needed to taste.
- Serve in bowls, topping with more parmesan, and basil leaves.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
