Pasta Recipe with Kielbasa
This Pasta Recipe with Kielbasa is a quick, one pot dinner your family will love. Created by expert recipe developers to use just a handful of ingredients and be easy to make, it's perfect for a busy weeknight.
Servings: 4
Calories: 882kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 13 ounces kielbasa, cut into ¼-inch circles
- ¾ cup diced yellow onion
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes, do not drain
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup half & half
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ pound rotini pasta
- 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
Instructions
- In a large 12-inch skillet (with 2-3 inch deep sides) on medium high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the kielbasa circles. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the kielbasa to start to brown and crisp around the edges.
- Once the kielbasa has started to brown around the edges, add the diced yellow onion, diced red bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
- Next, add the petite diced tomatoes, chicken stock, half & half, salt, black pepper, and rotini pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine all the ingredients and bring the liquids to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 12-14 minutes or until the liquids have reduced and the pasta is cooked to al dente. Be sure that you are stirring the pasta often to ensure that all the pasta is getting cooked evenly and not sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat to the skillet and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it is melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the pasta before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the skillet and oil are hot before adding the kielbasa. Cook in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. This is what brings out the best flavors in the kielbasa.
- If your kielbasa seems greasy after you cook it, you can blot it with clean paper towels to remove any excess.
- If your pasta is sticking, stir it! Then, remember to stir the pasta frequently while it simmers to prevent it from sticking.
- You can control the consistency of your pasta sauce by adding more chicken stock if it's too thick, or by cooking a bit longer to reduce if it's too thin. When adding liquid to your pasta during the simmering period, make sure you warm it up before hand so you don't reduce the temperature too much.
- The cheese will melt best if you remove the pan from the heat before adding it. Stir continuously to fully incorporate it in.
Nutrition
Calories: 882kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1709mg | Potassium: 957mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1662IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 408mg | Iron: 4mg