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Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce

January 10, 2011 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 15 Comments

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When I got home from Atlanta this week, I had to quickly jump back into reality.  I came home to 6 piles of laundry that needed to be taken care of, a sink full of dishes, a weekend’s worth of meals to be made (thankfully I’d already made 2 for next week!), and the prospect of having to regroup again for next week’s trip to Chicago and Minneapolis! (I’d love to meet you if you live in Chicago or Mpls!)

I needed easy.  I needed something I didn’t have to think too much about. And I needed something from the stockpile.

  • Pasta from the pantry. Check.
  • Chicken Sausage from the Freezer. Check.
  • Tomato sauce from the pantry. Check.
  • Seasonings from the cupboard. Check.
  • Brussels Sprouts from the freezer. Check.

Simple enough.

(And I did add the last of the shredded parmesan cheese from the freezer onto to Steve’s plate…which is in the picture above. The rest of us did not have cheese with our pasta…and it was perfectly fine without it!)

(But don’t worry…that’s not all Steve ate…he had 3 plates worth.)

Everyone loved this meal, except Tyler. He has recently discovered the art of throwing  his food on the ground and giggling. And he takes everything…even his beloved beans…and drops it all to the floor. Just to be sure that gravity is still working, I suppose!

*sigh*

penne pasta with sausage
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Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce

Delightful and easy pasta dinner!
Prep Time5 minutes minutes
Cook Time15 minutes minutes
Servings - 4 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb. sausage links, diced
  • 2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp dried basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 lb. penne pasta
  • Optional: Couple pinchfuls of Parmesan cheese
  • 1 bag Brussels sprouts

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, add the olive oil. Add the diced sausage pieces and saute for 3-4 minutes, or until begin to brown. Stir often. (I was using a fully cooked chicken sausage. If you use an uncooked sausage, then be sure to cook it all the way through before adding in the sauce.)
  • Once browned, stir in the tomato sauce and add the basil leaves and salt and pepper.
  • While the sausage is browning, cook the pasta as directed on the package. Drain and return to the pot.
  • Pour the sausage and basil sauce over the pasta and toss. Toss with shredded or grated parmesan cheese if desired.
  • Cook the brussels sprouts as directed on the bag.
  • Serve Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce, and a side of Brussels sprouts or other veggie.
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Filed Under: Budget Friendly Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Pork Recipes

Comments

  1. Sugar & Spice Frugal Advice says

    January 10, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Thanks for the link-up! I am amazed that you are able to get your family to eat brussel sprouts! What is your secret? LOL

    Reply
  2. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says

    January 10, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    This looks great, but for the brussels sprouts. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Sarah (Frontier Kitchen) says

    January 10, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    I love brussels sprouts! They’re so yummy roasted. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Kristia@Family Balance Sheet says

    January 10, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Thanks for the link-up.

    Have fun with your travels.

    Reply
  5. M says

    January 10, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    OK, this is a dumb question – but I’m curious and I will admit I really don’t know anything about buying sausage. If I go to the refrigerated meat section at Kroger will I find it called sweet chicken sausage on the package? What does it look like? Also, I’m curious about how “un-healthy” it is on the scale of meats – is chicken sausage any better for you than other other kinds of sausage? Does it contain MSG? Thanks!

    Reply
  6. JWizzle says

    January 11, 2011 at 12:42 am

    Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that any recipe that uses penne is always ten times better than basic spaghetti noodles. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Jodi B says

    January 11, 2011 at 9:12 am

    I love brussel sprouts also. My husband and son don’t like them. I buy them just for myself sometimes! I guess most people would buy ice cream or oreos. Not me. I love my veggies!

    Reply
  8. Queen of the House says

    January 11, 2011 at 9:39 am

    Hoping to see you in Minneapolis this week!!!! 🙂 Dress warm!!!! We are in for a really cold snap!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jessica (Cheapskate Life) says

    January 11, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    The only thing I need for the recipe is the saugsage and penne! I love your recipes! I think my picky kids will eat this one!

    Reply
  10. starralex76 says

    January 12, 2011 at 4:29 am

    It sound and looks so delicious!! I’m sure that it’s a very tasty foods. Will try to cook it tonight. Thanks a lot for recipe

    Reply
  11. YoungTightwad says

    February 20, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    Looks glorious! Can’t wait to try it out.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce – $5 Dinner Challenge -- Topsy.com says:
    January 10, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Erin Chase. Erin Chase said: New on 5DollarDinners.com: Penne Pasta with Sweet Sausage and Basil Sauce – $5 Dinner Challenge http://bit.ly/e28Rnz […]

    Reply
  2. Indonesian Ginger Chicken | Modern Gal says:
    January 10, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    […] at $5 Dinners and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday // January 10th, 2011 in Food, […]

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    January 12, 2011 at 8:48 am

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    February 2, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    […] 12- Italian Sausage Penna Pasta + Garlic Bread + […]

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