Description

This Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sausage Pasta is a flavorful and hearty skillet meal featuring tender pasta tossed with smoky sausage and a vibrant barbecue sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it combines the richness of cheddar cheese with a balance of sweet and tangy flavors from barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar, finished with a touch of spice and fresh green onions for garnish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Meat

12 ounces pasta (penne or rotini)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into rounds

Vegetables and Aromatics

1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce

1 cup barbecue sauce
½ cup tomato sauce
½ cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon chili powder

Finishing Touches

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 green onions, sliced
Salt and black pepper to taste

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Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Brown the sausage: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook until browned on both sides, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
Sauté onions and garlic: Using the same skillet, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
Prepare the sauce: Stir in the barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and chili powder into the skillet with the onion and garlic. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Combine sausage and pasta: Return the browned sausage to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together carefully to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
Melt the cheese: Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the skillet contents. Cover the skillet and allow the cheese to melt, about 2-3 minutes.
Garnish and serve: Remove the cover, garnish the pasta with sliced green onions, adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve hot.

Notes

For a spicier dish, add diced jalapeños or substitute spicy barbecue sauce.
This recipe can be baked by transferring the mixture to a casserole dish, topping with additional cheese, and baking at 375°F for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheat well the following day.