Description
Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta is a comforting one-pot meal featuring sliced kielbasa sausage, pasta, and a blend of creamy, cheesy flavors with Italian seasoning and tomatoes. This easy skillet dish comes together quickly, making it perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
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 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the sausage and vegetables.
- Cook Kielbasa and Onion: Add the sliced kielbasa sausage and diced onion to the skillet. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring regularly, until the sausage is lightly browned and the onion is softened.
- Add Garlic and Seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 30 seconds while continuously stirring to release the flavors without burning the garlic.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in the reduced-sodium chicken broth, diced Italian tomatoes (with their juices), milk, and add the uncooked penne pasta. Season with ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Bring to a Boil: Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil, ensuring the pasta starts cooking.
- Simmer and Cook Pasta: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, and cook until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Remove from Heat and Add Cheese: Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese until it melts and creates a creamy sauce.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed, then serve the cheesy kielbasa pasta hot.
Notes
- Kielbasa: You can substitute with turkey kielbasa or another smoked sausage variety.
- Italian seasoning: Increase this seasoning if you prefer a stronger herb flavor.
- Chicken broth: Reduced-sodium broth helps control salt content while maintaining flavor.
- Italian tomatoes: Use Italian seasoned diced tomatoes for extra flavor, or plain diced tomatoes if unavailable.
- Milk: Skim, whole, or any preferred milk variety can be used.
- Cheese: Regular cheddar cheese also melts well and is a good alternative.
- Nutrition values are estimates based on typical ingredient brands and portions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 1/6 of the recipe)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
