Description
Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta is a hearty and flavorful one-pan meal featuring sliced kielbasa sausage, penne pasta, and a rich blend of Italian-seasoned tomatoes and broth, topped off with melted Cheddar-Jack cheese. Ready in just 35 minutes, this creamy and comforting dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner with family or friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings & Liquids
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 14 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pasta & Cheese
- 8 ounces uncooked penne or similar pasta
- 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 sautéing the ingredients.
- Cook kielbasa and onion: Add the sliced kielbasa and diced onion to the skillet. Cook while stirring regularly for 4 minutes, or until the sausage is lightly browned and the onions become translucent.
- Add garlic and Italian seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, cooking for about 30 seconds while stirring constantly to release the aromas without burning.
- Add liquids and pasta: Pour in 2 cups of reduced-sodium chicken broth, the 14-ounce can of diced Italian tomatoes, ½ cup milk, and add 8 ounces of uncooked penne pasta along with ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Stir to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Bring to a boil: Increase the heat and bring the mixture to a full boil in the skillet.
- Simmer pasta: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finish with cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat, then stir in 2 cups of shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese until fully melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Season and serve: Taste the dish and season with additional salt and pepper as desired before serving.
Notes
- Kielbasa: You can substitute turkey kielbasa or another similar sausage if preferred.
- Italian seasoning: Feel free to increase the amount for a bolder flavor profile.
- Chicken broth: Reduced-sodium broth is recommended to better control the dish’s salt content.
- Italian tomatoes: Use Italian seasoned diced tomatoes for extra flavor, but plain diced tomatoes will also work.
- Milk: Any type of milk from skim to whole milk is suitable for this recipe.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese can be used as an alternative to Cheddar-Jack for a slightly different taste.
- Nutrition values are estimates and may vary by brand and portion size.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
