Easy (One Pot!) Sausage & Tomato Basil Pasta

Italian food is one of my favorite things to eat!  It's comfort food to me and my husband, but it's more of a dressier version than chicken pot pie or beef stew is.  Don't you think?!  

This recipe is the end all of easy Italian recipes.  The flavors are fresh and vibrant and it's beautiful in color!  The food feels decadent with complex flavors.  Surprisingly this Italian inspired dish is actually one of the healthiest pasta dishes I've ever eaten!  Well, partly because I chose to make it that way.  I substituted turkey sausage--which happen to love--and I used multi grain pasta.  Although I did add some mozzarella cheese to add extra creaminess, I used part skim instead of whole fat cheese.  Whole wheat or multi grain pasta, turkey smoked sausage, tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and onion, oregano, lots of black pepper, and mozzarella and parm cheese complete this wonderful meal!

The best part of all is it's a one pot dish!  It all cooks together in the same dish at the same time!!  The pasta water turns into a luscious sauce that is slightly creamy and just delicious!  

If your looking for an amazing new recipe to zest up your weekly line up that won't kill your healthy eating or take an afternoon to prepare, here is it!  Enjoy with loved ones and serve with salad or bread of choice.

 

One Pot Sausage & Tomato Basil Pasta

Adapted from: The Slow Roasted Italian

Olive oil

1 13 oz. pkg. Turkey smoked sausage (I use Butterball) sliced

1 lb. Dried whole wheat or multi grain spaghetti

3 c. Halved grape tomatoes

Basil leaves (about 20-30), torn

3-4 Cloves garlic, sliced or minced

1 Onion, diced

Dash of dried oregano

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Black pepper

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, grated 

1 c. Mozzarella cheese, diced

4 1/2 c. Water

In a large pot over medium heat, add a dash of olive oil and sauté onion and sausage till the sausage is browned.  Drain extra grease; there won't be much.  

In the same pot, add everything else to the sausage and onions while reserving about 10 basil leaves, 1 cup of the tomatoes, and all the cheese.  Add the water to the pot.

Bring to a boil with the lid on.  Once boiling remove lid and keep boiling for about 7-9 minutes or till pasta is just cooked. You may have to stir a couple of times.  Most of the liquid will absorb but if you're left with way too much, using a ladle remove a little of it.  You do want to leave some in there... It's the yummy sauce!

Add the parm and stir it around until mixed in.

Next add remaining tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese.

 

Stir it until it's well incorporated and immediately serve.  Add a little extra black pepper on top.

I accidentally kept my stove burner on low while putting in the last ingredients so all the mozz melted completely, but whether melted or chunky, it's tastes absolutely amazing!  This is one of the best pasta dishes!