One Pot pastas are my favorite easy dinner recipes during a busy week! This One Pot Orecchiette pasta recipe is super easy to make, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes. Made with simple ingredients, it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners or for hearty lunches to keep the cold at bay. This creamy, comforting dish is packed with so much flavor, with Italian sausage, chicken broth, spinach, and fragrant parmesan cheese — serve it with Cheesy Garlic Bread for the ultimate comfort food dinner! If you love this one-pot meal and want some other ideas, then check out this Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet, this hearty Italian Sausage Soup, and my One-Pot Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage recipe too!
Ingredients Needed:
Onion: onion adds a great savory flavor, and they’re a bit sweet too once they have been sautéed as they caramelize slightly. Italian Sausage: I tend to use mild Italian sausage as my family likes less heat, but you can use hot Italian sausage if you prefer. Seasonings: Italian seasoning, freshly minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper work together well to pack in tons of flavor! Broth: use a low-sodium chicken broth as it will allow you to better control the salt level of the dish. Cream: heavy whipping cream will give you the creamiest results and holds up well in the heat, but whole milk or a lighter cream will also work. Pasta: use uncooked Orecchiette pasta. Any short pasta will do! Spinach: fresh spinach leaves will add a pop of color and more nutrients to this dish. Cheese: fragrant salty and cheesy parmesan complements the Italian flavors so well.
How to Make Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage
Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
Tips and Notes
Fresh ingredients. Pre-chopped vegetables tend to get dry, so using fresh vegetables that you’ve chopped yourself will give you the best set of flavors. Similarly, using freshly minced garlic will give the freshest, most potent garlic flavor here. Salt. You may want to use less salt if you are not using low sodium broth. Cream. You can use a lighter cream or even milk, but the flavor will not be as rich.
Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage Variations
Mix up the veggies. Seasonal vegetables like carrots would taste great in this dish. Also try zucchini, mushroom, or red peppers. Swap the meat: it won’t be Orecchiette with sausage, but this recipe is perfect for using up what you have on hand! Leftover Crockpot Shredded Chicken or Baked Chicken Breast, crispy Bacon or leftover Spiral Ham work just as well! Add some heat. Add some red pepper flakes or some chili powder to the dish for a bit of extra heat. Cheese. Serve topped with some parmesan or mozzarella cheese.
Serving Suggestions
While this one-pot orecchiette with sausage dish is hearty and filling, it would also go well with some sides to make it a fuller meal, or help it go further to feed more people. Bread is always a great accompaniment for dinner. Try my Classic Crescent Rolls, my Garlic Bread, this Garlic & Herb Dinner Rolls, or these Homemade Breadsticks.
More One-Pot Recipes to Try
Chicken Corn Chowder Creamy Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Instant Pot Alfredo Pasta Lasagna Soup
Italian Sausage Gnocchi Skillet
Italian Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes
Easy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Green Chile Mac and Cheese
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