Italian Sausage Pasta – Easy One-Pot, Cheesy & Hearty (45 Minutes)

The Ultimate One Pot Pasta Family Comfort Food

When you need a dinner that’s guaranteed to satisfy a hungry crowd with minimal cleanup, this One-Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is your secret weapon. It combines rich Italian sausage and savory ground beef with pasta in a robust, cheesy tomato sauce—all cooked in a single pot. The result is a deeply flavorful, hearty, and incredibly comforting dish that turns a simple weeknight into a special occasion. It’s the kind of meal everyone asks for seconds of. If you love one-pot wonders, you must try our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta for another easy, flavor-packed option.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One-Pot Wonder: Cooks entirely in a Dutch oven for incredible flavor and easy cleanup.
• Feeds a Crowd: Generously serves 8, making it perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
• Rich & Hearty: The combination of two meats creates a robust, satisfying base.
• Customizable: Easily adjust the spice level or add your favorite vegetables.
• Perfect Texture: The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all the delicious flavors.

Your Simple, Flavorful Ingredient List for a cheesy Pasta Bake

• Meats: 1 lb hot Italian sausage, 1 lb ground beef.
• Aromatics: 1 yellow onion (diced), 1 jalapeno (diced, seeds removed), 4 cloves garlic.
• Seasonings: 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp each dried oregano and basil, 1 tsp black pepper.
• Tomato Base: 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce, 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste, 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles.
• Liquid & Pasta: 4 cups beef broth, 1 lb (16 oz) rotini pasta.
• Cheese: 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.

Pro Tip: For the deepest flavor, brown the sausage well before slicing. This creates a flavorful fond (the browned bits) on the bottom of the pot that will dissolve into your sauce, giving it a rich, complex taste that can’t be achieved any other way.

Step-by-Step to One-Pot Perfection

Phase 1: Brown & Build the Base

1. Brown the Sausage: In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the whole sausage links and cook until well-browned on all sides. Remove, slice into ½-inch pieces, and return to the pot.
2. Cook Remaining Meat & Veggies: Add the ground beef, diced onion, and diced jalapeno to the pot. Cook, breaking up the beef, until no pink remains and the vegetables are soft. Drain any excess grease.

Phase 2: Simmer the Sauce
3. Add Seasonings: Sprinkle the oregano, basil, and black pepper over the meat mixture. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Create the Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and green chiles. Stir everything together, cover, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Phase 3: Cook the Pasta & Finish
5. Add Pasta & Broth: Stir in the beef broth and uncooked rotini pasta. Ensure the pasta is submerged.
6. Cook Until Tender: Bring to a simmer, then cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 12-15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
7. Add the Cheese: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until completely melted and creamy.
8. Serve: Dish up hot, garnished with extra cheese or fresh herbs if desired.

Pro Tips & Easy Variations

• Control the Heat: Use mild Italian sausage and remove all jalapeno seeds for a milder dish. For extra spice, use hot sausage and leave some seeds in.
• Add Veggies: Stir in a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach or diced bell peppers with the tomatoes for added nutrition.
• Creamier Version: For a richer sauce, stir in ½ cup of heavy cream or 4 oz of softened cream cheese with the mozzarella.
• Different Protein: Swap the meats for ground turkey and turkey sausage for a lighter option.

Serving Suggestions for Any Night

This pasta is a complete meal in a bowl but pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad dressed with Italian vinaigrette and warm, crusty bread for dipping. For another hearty, family-friendly Italian-inspired meal that’s great for gatherings, check out our classic Cheeseburger Slab.

Nutrition at a Glance

(Approximate per serving) Calories: 650, Fat: 30g, Carbohydrates: 70g, Protein: 38g, Fiber: 4g. A hearty and satisfying main dish.

Storing and Making Ahead

• Store: Let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Gently reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
• Freeze: Freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Your Pasta Questions Answered

• Can I make this vegetarian? Yes! Use plant-based meat crumbles and substitute the beef broth with vegetable broth.
• My pasta is sticking. What should I do? Ensure you stir frequently once the pasta is added. If it’s too thick, add a little more broth or water.
• Can I use a different pasta? Any short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or shells will work. Adjust the cook time as needed.
• Can I use other cheeses? Absolutely! A blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepper jack is delicious.

More Hearty Family Dinners to Try

If your family loves this comforting pasta, they’ll adore our other filling recipes. Our High Protein Creamy Beef Pasta is another winner, and for a fun twist, our Cheesy Potato Burritos are always a hit.

The Story Behind This Hearty Dish

This Italian Sausage Pasta is a celebration of hearty, no-fuss cooking. It takes the beloved flavors of a slow-simmered ragù and combines them with the convenience of a one-pot pasta dish, where the starch from the pasta helps create a luxuriously thick sauce. The method of browning the sausage whole before slicing is a key technique for maximizing flavor, inspired by the approach in the Italian Sausage Pasta recipe on 77recipes.com.

Pin This Recipe For Dinner Tonight!

This is the hearty, no-fuss dinner you’ll turn to again and again. Save this image to your “Easy Weeknight Dinners” or “Comfort Food” Pinterest board so you never lose it. Did you make a delicious pot? We’d love to see it—tag us in your photos!

Maria Canilssom

Italian Sausage Pasta

This One-Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is the ultimate hearty family dinner! Loaded with Italian sausage, ground beef, and melted mozzarella in a rich tomato sauce, it’s all cooked in one pot for maximum flavor and easy cleanup. For another fantastic one-pot meal, try our One-Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian-American

Calories: 650

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb hot Italian sausage links
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 medium jalapeno, diced (seeds removed)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
• 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
• 4 cups beef broth
• 16 oz rotini pasta
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Equipment

• Large Dutch Oven Essential for one-pot cooking and moving from stovetop to oven if needed.

Method

 

1. In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sausage links and cook until browned on all sides. Remove, slice into ½-inch pieces, and return to the pot.
2. Add the ground beef, diced onion, and diced jalapeno to the pot. Cook, breaking up the beef, until no pink remains and vegetables are soft. Drain excess grease.
3. Sprinkle oregano, basil, and black pepper over the meat. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Pour in tomato sauce, paste, diced tomatoes, and green chiles. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15-20 mins, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir the beef broth and uncooked rotini pasta into the pot. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes, stirring often, until pasta is al dente and liquid is mostly absorbed.
5. Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the shredded mozzarella cheese until completely melted and creamy. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve hot.

Notes

Pro Tips: For the deepest flavor, brown the sausage links well before slicing them to create a flavorful fond in the pot. Stir the pasta frequently once it’s added to prevent sticking. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash more broth or water. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after adding the cheese before serving to allow it to set slightly.