Description
A quick and flavorful Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta that’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. This one-pot dish combines savory kielbasa sausage, aromatic garlic and Italian seasoning, tender pasta cooked in a rich tomato and chicken broth, all topped with melted Cheddar-Jack cheese for a creamy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound kielbasa sausage, sliced
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 14 ounce can diced Italian tomatoes
- ½ cup milk
- 8 ounces uncooked penne or similar pasta
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the sausage and vegetables.
- Cook kielbasa and onion: Add the sliced kielbasa and diced onion to the skillet. Cook, stirring regularly, for about 4 minutes until the sausage is lightly browned and the onions are softened.
- Add garlic and Italian seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 30 seconds while stirring continuously to release the flavors without burning the garlic.
- Add liquids and pasta: Pour in the reduced-sodium chicken broth, canned diced Italian tomatoes, milk, and uncooked penne pasta. Season with ground black pepper and stir to combine.
- Boil then simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure the pasta cooks evenly until al dente.
- Add cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese until fully melted and combined for a creamy texture.
- Season to taste: Taste the dish and add additional salt and pepper as desired for final seasoning before serving.
Notes
- Kielbasa: You can substitute with a similar sausage such as turkey kielbasa for a leaner option.
- Italian seasoning: Feel free to adjust the amount of Italian seasoning to suit your taste preferences.
- Chicken broth: Using reduced-sodium broth helps control the overall saltiness of the dish.
- Italian tomatoes: Diced tomatoes without seasoning work fine if Italian tomatoes aren’t available.
- Milk: Any type of milk from skim to whole milk can be used depending on your preferred creaminess and fat content.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese or other cheese blends work well as a substitute for Cheddar-Jack.
- Nutrition values are approximate and may vary based on ingredient brands and measurements.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
