Description
A simple pasta dish combining fresh Caprese flavors with savory Italian sausage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or hot, casings removed)
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, small balls or cubed
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked. Drain off excess grease.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage and cook for one minute until fragrant.
- Add the halved tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until they begin to soften slightly.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine with the sausage and tomatoes.
- Stir in the fresh mozzarella pieces and a splash of the reserved pasta water to create a light sauce. Toss until the cheese is slightly melted and coated.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken sausage for pork sausage.
- Use high-quality fresh mozzarella for the best texture.
- If you prefer a saucier dish, add more reserved pasta water as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Unsaturated Fat: 19
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 85
Keywords: Caprese pasta, Italian sausage, tomato mozzarella basil pasta, quick dinner, sausage pasta