Sausage Pasta (A One Pot Recipe)

This One Pot Sausage Pasta is a real weeknight winner – hearty, comforting, and all cooked in one pan for minimal washing up.

Tasty sausage pieces, pasta, and chopped veg simmer together in a rich tomato sauce, soaking up all that flavour as it cooks. It’s quick to make, family-friendly, and easy to adapt with whatever you’ve got in the fridge.

How To Make Sausage Pasta (in just one pot)

With just a few simple ingredients, you can create this tasty and filling dish.

For more concise ingredients and instructions, or to print the recipe out, please head to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

What You Need

Sausages

You’ll need 6 to 8 sausages – removing the skins is optional. You can leave them whole, slice them into rounds, or break them into bite-sized chunks. Use whatever type you prefer: pork, chicken, herby, or even something with a bit of spice.

Pasta

300g of dried pasta – penne, fusilli, or any short pasta shape will work well.

Red Pepper

Adds colour and sweetness – just chop it up and throw it in with the sausages.

Chopped Tomatoes

One 400g tin of chopped tomatoes forms the base of the sauce.

Stock

500ml of chicken or vegetable stock helps cook the pasta and builds flavour in the sauce.

Herbs & Spices

A teaspoon of dried oregano and half a teaspoon of smoked paprika add warmth and depth.

Salt and Pepper

Season to taste – add a pinch at the start and adjust later if needed.

Spinach (Optional)

A handful of fresh spinach stirred through at the end adds a bit of green and extra nutrition.

Grated Cheese (Optional)

Top each bowl with some grated cheese for a melty, comforting finish.

Making It

Cook the Sausages

Start by heating a large non-stick pan over medium heat – make sure it’s big enough to hold all the pasta and liquid later on. You can either remove the skins from the sausages and break them into small chunks, or slice them into rounds if you prefer. Removing the skins gives you more of a rustic, mince-style texture that blends into the sauce, while sliced sausages hold their shape and give you those juicy bites.
Cook the sausage pieces for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they’re browned all over and starting to caramelise – this is where a lot of the flavour comes from.

Add the Vegetables

Next, add the chopped red pepper. This adds more colour and a touch of sweetness to the dish. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the pepper begins to soften slightly – it’ll finish cooking with the rest of the ingredients later.

Add Tomatoes, Stock & Pasta

Pour in the chopped tomatoes and stock – this creates the base of your sauce and gives the pasta plenty of liquid to absorb as it cooks. Add the dried pasta straight into the pan, along with the oregano, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Give everything a good stir so the pasta is well coated in the sauce. It might look like a lot of liquid at this stage, but the pasta will soak most of it up as it simmers.

Simmer

Bring everything to a gentle simmer, then pop a lid on the pan and reduce the heat to low-medium. Cook for around 12–15 minutes, giving it a stir every now and then to stop the pasta sticking to the bottom. If the sauce looks a bit too thick before the pasta is fully cooked, add a splash more water or stock to loosen it.

Stir in the Spinach

Once the pasta is cooked through and tender, it’s time to add the spinach (if you’re using it). Just stir in a handful and let it wilt in the heat of the pan – it only takes a minute or two. This is a great way to sneak in a bit of greenery and boost the nutrition.

Serve

Ladle the pasta into bowls and top with grated cheese, if you fancy. A bit of mature cheddar, mozzarella, or even Parmesan works brilliantly here. Serve it up hot and enjoy – comfort food at its best, with minimal washing up afterwards!

Tips & Variations

• Use any type of sausage – pork, chicken, veggie, or even spicy chorizo-style.
• Add extra veg like mushrooms, courgette, frozen peas, or sweetcorn.
• Stir through a little cream or crème fraîche at the end for a creamy tomato sauce.
• Try topping with chilli flakes or fresh herbs like parsley or basil for added flavour.

More One Pot Meals To Try

If you love the ease of throwing everything into one pan and letting it work its magic, here are a few more one pot meals you might enjoy:

• Chicken and Chorizo Paella Recipe
• Creamy Cajun Chicken and Pasta Recipe
• Chicken Couscous Recipe With Peppers, Garlic + Chilli