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Whip up a fancy pasta dish with hardly any dishes to wash using this tasty one-pot approach. Juicy Italian sausage blends with savory tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella while your pasta cooks to the perfect bite in the same container. You'll have dinner on the table in half an hour, turning basic ingredients into a dinner your family won't forget.
One hectic evening, this dish saved my sanity when I figured out I could make a smooth sauce while the pasta cooked in one pot. Adding mozzarella turned an ordinary sauce into something amazing that my family now asks for every week.
Key Components
- Italian sausage: Squeeze from casings for better texture
- Fresh garlic: Look for plump, weighty bulbs
- Crushed tomatoes: Gives the ideal sauce thickness
- Beef broth: Makes a flavorful base
- Good pasta: Crucial for releasing enough starch
- Genuine mozzarella: Creates that creamy finish
Cooking Method
- Getting Started With Sausage:
- Crumble sausage into tiny chunks in warm pot, cooking until nicely browned. Pour off extra grease but keep those tasty bits stuck to the bottom.
- Building Flavor:
- Toss in tomato paste and chopped garlic, stirring until super fragrant. Sprinkle in dried herbs and spices bit by bit, letting all those flavors wake up.
- Adding The Pasta:
- Dump in broth and tomatoes, letting everything bubble gently. Drop in pasta, making sure it's all underwater. Keep an eye on the liquid, turning heat down or adding more broth if needed.
- Finishing Touch:
- When pasta feels right, mix in mozzarella little by little. Put the lid on and wait a moment so the cheese gets all melty into the sauce.
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The secret to this dish comes from the starch that leaks out of the pasta during cooking. This natural thickener creates a smooth sauce that wraps around each piece of spaghetti, making every mouthful incredibly tasty.
Perfect Pairings
Make your meal even better with some buttery garlic bread and a crisp Caesar salad on the side. Sprinkle fresh Parmesan and torn basil on top just before you eat. Set out some red pepper flakes for anyone who wants a spicy kick.
Make It Your Own
Switch things up by using hot Italian sausage for some heat or try different pasta shapes. Throw in some mushrooms, colorful peppers, or handfuls of spinach for extra veggies. Skip the cheese if you want something lighter, or add more for extra richness.
Storing Leftovers
Store any extra pasta in sealed containers up to three days. Warm it back up on the stove with a splash of broth to keep the sauce nice and smooth. Try to finish it within a couple days for the tastiest results.
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This one-pot pasta has totally changed how I cook on busy nights. With hardly any cleanup and tons of flavor, it's now my favorite way to make something delicious without spending forever in the kitchen. The mix of Italian sausage, tomatoes, and melty cheese gets everyone running to the table ready to enjoy a truly satisfying dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What kind of sausage works?
- Try any Italian sausage, either ground or out of the casing.
- → What if pasta's still tough?
- Pour in more broth and cook a bit longer till it softens.
- → What if it's too watery?
- Cook it more; leftover pasta will soak up the extra liquid.
- → How can I add some heat?
- Sprinkle more chili flakes till it gets spicy enough.
- → What pot works best?
- Go for a big pot or a Dutch oven for easy cooking.