Description
A quick weeknight dinner featuring tender short pasta tossed in a honey-soy glaze with browned sausage, creating a sweet-savory comfort meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 12 oz short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or similar)
- 1 lb sausage, sliced (Italian, smoked, or your preferred kind)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Brown the sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, arrange sliced sausage in a single layer, and cook until browned and slightly crisp, about 5–7 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, lower heat, add minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, then pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Reintroduce sausage: Return browned sausage to the skillet and simmer for 3–4 minutes to absorb the sauce.
- Combine with pasta: Toss drained pasta into the skillet, adding reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency. Stir in butter until melted.
- Finish and serve: Season to taste with salt and pepper, sprinkle with parsley and grated Parmesan if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, substitute sausage with smoked tofu or seitan. Adjust the sauce for sweetness and saltiness as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian