Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta is packed with flavor and combines savory Kielbasa sausage, tender pasta, and a creamy, cheese sauce.
One-Pan Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Recipe
Kielbasa is one of those handy proteins to keep on hand for an easy meal for those busy weeknights that the whole family will love. No defrosting is needed.
I keep a package of kielbasa in the fridge drawer and when I have no ideas for supper and it's hungry:30, I can whip up Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta or Cheesy Kielbasa Hash Brown Casserole if I'm in the mood for potatoes instead of pasta.
This one-pan kielbasa mac and cheese doesn't cook the noodles separately. Instead, a little bit of pasta water and milk is used to make the creamy sauce right in the pan.
I serve this with a quick veggie dish like Roasted Romaine or Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts. Or a go with a no-cook side dish by serving fresh veggies and Ranch Cottage Cheese Dip or a simple side salad.
Ingredients
Use any kind of smoked sausage you like. We are lucky to have a local butcher shop that makes their own that's delish. It's my favorite, but any run of the mill smoked sausage will work here.
- Kielbasa, sliced - or other smoked sausage such as Polish sausage
- Yellow Onion, diced -
- Chicken Stock - or bouillon and water
- Milk - I used whole milk
- Rigatoni - or other smaller pasta such as penne pasta, rotini pasta, or bow tie pasta
- Cream Cheese - I use full fat, but reduced or fat free will work
- Cheddar Cheese, shredded - I like extra sharp cheddar cheese for the extra flavor
- Green Onion, diced - Makes a nice pop of color and brightness
- Black Pepper and Tony Chachere's Seasoning, to taste
- Optional add-ins- colored bell peppers, canned green chiles, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, etc
See recipe card for quantities.
Directions
- In a Dutch oven or large skillet, brown the sliced kielbasa until crispy on the edges.
- Add the onions and cook until tender. Remove the kielbasa and onions from the pan and set aside.
- Bring chicken broth and milk to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package indicates.
- Add more liquid as needed.
- Stir frequently to prevent pasta from sticking.
- When pasta is al dente, do NOT drain. Add cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir until melted—season with black pepper and Tony Chachere's.
- Stir in the cooked smoked sausage and top with green onions. Serve hot.
Hint: Add a splash of milk to the noodles as needed, for desired consistency.
Substitutions & Variations
A delicious cheesy sausage pasta you can make lots of different ways to fit your preferences.
- Sausage - instead of using Kielbasa, use any smoked sausage you like
- Gluten-Free - use gluten-free pasta for a great main dish
- Cheese - Mix up the cheese. Use pepper jack, gouda, or other flavorful cheese.
- Veggie - Sneak some fresh spinach, peas, or other veggie into this pasta dish for a healthy one-pot meal
- Spicy - Use spicy smoke sausage, add diced jalapeno in with the onion, or add dried chili flakes for a spicy pasta.
- Kid Friendly - If your kids like hot dogs, use them in place of the Kielbasa for an inexpensive pasta dinner.
See this grown-up version of mac and cheese meets chicken alfredo! One Pot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Stove Top is one of my favorite pasta dishes.
Storage
Store in the fridge for 3 to 5 days in an airtight container.
Reheating Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta
Add a little bit of milk for best consistency and reheat on the stovetop over low heat or microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Top tip
Due to the limited cooking liquid, make sure to stir the pasta very frequently while cooking. This will prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
FAQ
Sharp cheddar works well with kielbasa. The strong, creamy flavor compliments the smoky richness of the smoked sausage.
Kielbasa is a source of protein. To lower the amount of fat, choose a turkey kielbasa or chicken kielbasa.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
HAVE A QUESTION? ❤️
Leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer you!
And, if you made this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!
And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!
Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Kielbasa sliced
- ¼ cup Yellow Onion diced
- 3 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Milk
- 16 ounces Rigatoni
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 1-2 Green Onions diced
- Black Pepper and Tony Chachere's Seasoning to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven, brown the sliced kielbasa until crispy on the edges.
- Add the onions and cook until tender. Remove kielbasa and onions from the pan and set aside.
- Bring chicken broth and milk to a boil. Add more liquid as needed.
- Add pasta and cook for 1 to 2 minutes less than package indicates.
- Stir frequently to prevent pasta from sticking.
- When pasta is tender add cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Season with black pepper and Tony Chachere's.
- Stir in the kielbasa and top with green onions. Serve hot.
Terry T
The cheese makes this delicious!!!
Chuckie
Thank you! So glad you made it! 🙂