Pasta with Italian Sausage and Basil

I know that it is Friday evening and you want something good to eat ... because we have accomplished the week. But I also know that we want something that will not require fuss and major cleanup. Of course in my house, growing up, this usually consisted of Pasta. Funny thing is we must have eaten Pasta more than three times a week. Anyway this is a recipe that includes only a few items, that are easy to get and it takes about 20-30 minutes to prepare. It also is great to re-heat for a later time.

Pasta with Italian Sausage and Basil

1 tablespoon olive oil
12 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3-4 Links of Italian Sausage (remove from casings or cut each link in 8-10 pieces)
1 can crushed tomatos, 28 oz
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons of dried basil
1 pound of pasta, ziti or rigatonni or any short/fat pasta

This is an easy meal. Put a pot of boiling water on the stove first. Heat up a seperate saucepan over medium heat to cook the pasta sauce. Add the olive oil and onions when the saucepan is hot. Stir for about two minutes. Add the garlic to the pan, stir and cook for an additional minute. Add sausage and cook until the sausage is done. Add the can of crushed tomatoes. Stir the sauce and let it come to a boil. Add the basil, salt and pepper and lower the heat to simmer the sauce. Add the pasta to the water at this point. When the pasta is done, drain it and the return the pasta back to the large pot. Add about 1/4 cup of the sauce and stir. Put pasta on each plate and then top with a generous amount of the sauce and sausage. Serve it with some crusty Italian bread and maybe a glass of wine ... ok do not give the kids the wine ... cut down on clean up and use paper plates ...


This is a very flavorful sauce and is enjoyed by my family on a regular basis. I hope you will try it ...

Enjoy,
Mark