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Easy One-Pot Honey BBQ Sausage Pasta

one-pot honey BBQ sausage pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy one-pot pasta dish with smoky sausage, sweet honey BBQ sauce, and tender noodles. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting meal comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340 g) smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into ½-inch rounds
  • 8 oz (225 g) short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 ½ cups (590 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • ½ cup (120 ml) your favorite BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup (85 g) honey
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (optional garnish)
  • Red pepper flakes (optional garnish)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Slice the smoked sausage into ½-inch thick rounds. Heat a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat and add the sausage slices in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until nicely browned and caramelized on the edges. Transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside. Leave about 1 tablespoon of rendered fat in the pot (if lean, add a drizzle of olive oil).
  2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  3. Add the tomato paste to the pot and stir into the onions for about 1 minute. Then pour in the BBQ sauce, honey, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir until combined into a thick paste.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and water, then stir to combine. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the pasta and stir well to ensure every piece is submerged. Reduce the heat to medium-low so the liquid is at a gentle simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the browned sausage slices (and any juices). Let it sit, covered, for 2-3 minutes so the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh parsley or chives and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For a thicker sauce, let the pasta sit uncovered for 5 minutes after cooking. If doubling the recipe, use a wider pot, not a deeper one. For meal prep, undercook the pasta by 1-2 minutes so it doesn’t become mushy when reheated.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot pasta, honey BBQ, sausage pasta, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food, smoked sausage, BBQ pasta

Find it online: https://larameals.com/easy-one-pot-honey-bbq-sausage-pasta-recipe/