One-Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

Creamy and cheesy pasta cooked on one pot with fresh broccoli and savory smoked sausage. This pasta cooks in 30-minutes and is a delicious, and family friendly, weeknight meal.

Meals cooked in one pot are one of my favorite things! Easy weeknight dinners are so important and what is even more important is that taste delicious!

This pasta is one of my family's favorite meals. I am lucky to have two kids that like broccoli, I am waiting for the shoe to drop on that one, but it is something we all look forward to eating for dinner.

This One-Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Broccoli Pasta is so creamy and it is ready in under 30-minutes!

This recipe is also a favorite of mine because it I only need 8 ingredients to make it! Plus, many of these ingredients, like milk, pasta, chicken broth, and cheese, I keep on hand all the time.

This pasta also makes great leftovers for lunch or a quick dinner. It is really important to me that leftovers are tasty and re-heat well- my One-Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Broccoli Pasta certainly meets that criteria!

What do you need to make One-Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Broccoli Pasta?

• Shaped Pasta
• smoked sausage
• Chicken Broth
• Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2%- Whole Milk
• Fresh Broccoli Florets
• American cheese
• Cheddar Cheese

How to make One-Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage and Broccoli Pasta!

1. Place pasta, sausage, broth, cream, and milk into a pot.
2. Turn heat to medium. Simmer the pasta till tender, about 10 minutes. Make sure to stir the pasta every 3-4 minutes to prevent it from sticking.
3. Add broccoli and cheeses. cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow cheese to melt and broccoli to become tender.
4. Serve and enjoy.

Let's Talk About the Cheese!

This recipe uses american cheese and cheddar cheese. Personally, I love using american cheese in pasta dishes. It melts perfectly, and is really creamy. I also find it blends well with other cheeses.

Other great combinations would be colby and cheddar, muenster and cheddar, monterey jack and american, american and pepper jack, monterey jack and cheddar. The list is longer, but those are a few examples of great pairings.

What makes a great pairing? I think a flavorful cheese with a cheese that melts well is important. For pasta, or even a grilled cheese, pairing two cheeses that don't melt well may not result in the desired consistency.

Example, extra sharp cheddar, feta, or blue cheese taste delicious, but might not give the desired sauce texture for a pasta with cheese. This does not mean it does not work, but it mean to pair those cheeses with something mild that melts well.

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A Few Tips on One-Pot Dishes!

For a successful one-pot dish make sure your heat is not too high. There is a need for occasional stirring, but you still want to maintain heat in the dish to allow the pasta, rice, or bean to cook correctly.

Also, make sure that the veggies you want cooked tender are cut small enough. Veggies like carrots, onion, and celery can take longer than the pasta to cook. Make sure the pieces are small, and sometimes you saute for a bit before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Another note on veggies. Add veggies that need to be lightly cooked last, like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, or kale.

Lastly, if you are using pasta try to pair it with the other things you are cooking. A small or thin pasta, like angel hair, will cook very fast. A medium sized shell pasta will take a little longer. The longer cooking pasta works well with chunky hearty ingredients, and the thin smaller works a little better with simple quick cooking veggies like kale or spinach.

Looking for more one-pot winners?!

One-Pot Chicken Feta Alfredo

One-Pot Chili Mac

One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Wine Braised Short Ribs from Family Around The Table

Creamy Sausage Pasta from Kylee Cooks

What about a few delicious recipes using smoked sausage?!

Glazed Smoked Sausage and Pineapple Bites

Slowcooker Cheesy Potato and Smoked Sausage Soup

If you’ve tried this ONE POT CHEESY SMOKED SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI PASTA or any other recipe on Cheese Curd In Paradise please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on- PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, or TWITTER.