Kielbasa Pasta

I’ve got a weeknight dinner that has become a regular in my home. It’s this Kielbasa Pasta dish that everyone in our family loves. It started on a busy weeknight when I was rummaging through my kitchen, looking for something quick and hearty to whip up. I found some Polish sausage and pasta and thought, “Why not?”

So, I tossed the smoky kielbasa with hearty pasta and some fresh veggies. The whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, which is perfect when you’re short on time but still want a meal that feels complete and satisfying.

Pasta is one of our go-to ingredients when we want a quick and easy, yet totally satisfying dinner. From the light and fresh Pasta and Peas, to the rich and decadent Gigi Hadid Pasta, there’s so much you can do with a box of pasta.

Now today’s pasta dinner is a good mix of carbs, protein, and veggies for a healthy, well-rounded meal and it all happens in one skillet. Win, win for me.

Ingredients Notes

You can find exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post. Here are the things you will need:

• Pasta – You can use any type of pasta, but I like a short tubular shape like penne or rotini. Linguini or fettuccini also work great here.
• Kielbasa Sausage – The star of the show. As it’s already cooked, all it needs is a quick browning to add to the depth of flavor.
• Aromatics – Onion and garlic. For a milder flavor, shallots can be used in place of the onion.
• Bell Peppers – Any color of bell pepper works well in this recipe. Go with a mix for flavor variety. Today I am using red and yellow.
• Tomatoes – I like fresh tomatoes, but canned diced tomatoes can also be used.
• Italian Seasoning – If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can make your own blend using dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
• Crushed Red Pepper – This is optional but I love it here.
• Chicken Broth – Use any of your preferred brands, I like Better than Bouillon.
• Fresh Basil – If fresh basil isn’t available, dried basil can be used, but it should be added during the cooking process rather than as a garnish. As dried is more potent, you would want to use considerably less. Alternately, you could use fresh parsley.

Kielbasa Pasta Recipe

1. Cook the pasta: I start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until it’s al dente, just like the package directions say. Then, I drain it and set it aside.

2. Brown the sausage: While the pasta is cooking, I brown the sausage on both sides until it’s nicely caramelized. Then, I remove it to a plate and set it aside.

3. Sauté veggies: Next, I sauté the onion and peppers for about 5 minutes. Once they’re softened, I add in the garlic and a pinch of crushed red pepper, letting them cook together for a minute.

4. Cook down tomatoes: Then, I stir in the tomatoes and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, cooking everything until the tomatoes begin to soften and break down, about 4-5 minutes.

5. Simmer: Once the tomatoes are cooked down a bit, I pour in the chicken broth slowly, making sure to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan to deglaze it. Then I add the browned sausage back into the pan, and let the whole mixture simmer for another 5 minutes to blend the flavors.

6. Finalize the dish: Then I just toss in cooked pasta along with fresh basil leaves and let it cook for another minute or two. That’s it!

Variations

• Add More Protein: I sometimes add chicken or shrimp to this dish too. They both go really well with the kielbasa and make the meal even more filling and flavorful.
• Veggie Boost: Add more veggies for extra bulk and nutrition. Think mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, spinach or broccoli.
• Make it Creamy: Some days I like to stir in half a cup of heavy whipping cream right at the end of the cooking time. It makes the dish really creamy and delicious!
• Cheesy Pasta Bake: After tossing everything together, sprinkle with cheese (like mozzarella and/or parmesan), and bake until bubbly and golden.

Alpana’s Tips

• Pasta Perfection: Cook the pasta al dente so it retains some bite. This prevents it from becoming too soft when tossed with the other ingredients.
• Sausage Searing: Brown the kielbasa well in the skillet. This caramelization adds depth to the overall flavor of the dish.
• Deglaze Thoroughly: When I add the chicken broth, I make sure to scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Those bits are packed with flavor and really enhance the dish.

Delicious, nutritious, and ready in 30 minutes… that’s my Kielbasa pasta! Grab some Polish sausage on your next trip to the grocery store, and whip up this great dinner in no time.

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Kielbasa Pasta, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

More great pasta dishes to try:
TikTok Spaghetti
Espagueti Verde
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Dirty Martini Pasta
Jerk Chicken Pasta
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Pastalaya

Recipe Video

Kielbasa Pasta (Recipe + Video)

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This Kielbasa Pasta is a quick weeknight dinner where smoky Polish sausage is complimented by sweet bell peppers in a light tomato based sauce.

5.0 Stars (34 Reviews)

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Ingredients

• 8oz dried pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 14oz kielbasa sausage, sliced
• ½ small onion, sliced
• 2 bell peppers, sliced (any colors you prefer)
• 3 large garlic cloves, sliced
• ½ teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 1 pound fresh tomatoes, diced
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 cup fresh basil

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta is cooking, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes total.
3. Add onion and bel peppers. Sauté for 5 minutes.
4. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, cook for 1 minute.
5. Add tomato and Italian seasoning. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
6. Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring to deglaze the pan. Add browned sausage, and simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Toss in cooked pasta along with fresh basil leaves.
8. Serve immediately.

Notes

1. Leftovers and Storing: This Polish sausage pasta is great as leftovers for the next few days. Store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
2. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on stovetop over medium heat, with a splash of water or olive oil if it has dried out.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 531Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 24gCholesterol 73mgSodium 1177mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 3gSugar 8gProtein 18g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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