Caprese Pasta with Italian Sausage 🥘

Ingredients

8 oz pasta penne, rigatoni, or fusilli

1 lb Italian sausage sweet or spicy

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

2 cups cherry tomatoes halved

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional

½ tsp dried oregano

½ cup reserved pasta water

8 oz mozzarella pearls

¼ cup fresh basil leaves chopped

2 tbsp balsamic glaze

Instructions

Cook the Pasta

Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.

Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.

Cook the Italian Sausage

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the Italian sausage (remove casing if needed) and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked (about 5-7 minutes).

Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Sauté the Aromatics and Tomatoes

In the same skillet, add chopped onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened.

Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Add cherry tomatoes, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and oregano. Stir and cook until the tomatoes soften and release their juices (about 5 minutes).

Combine with Pasta and Sausage

Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir everything together.

Add the drained pasta and mix well. If it looks dry, stir in a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.

Add Mozzarella and Basil

Remove from heat and gently stir in mozzarella pearls and fresh basil. The heat will slightly melt the cheese, making it creamy.

Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze and Serve

Finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and adjust seasoning if needed.

Serve warm and enjoy!