This hearty, flavorful Crock Pot Sausage Pasta is packed with flavor and about as easy as it gets!
Looking for a ‘set it and forget’ dinner that’s made in the crockpot? Hearty, healthy, and full of flavor, this sausage pasta is the weekly recipe that can go from season to season all year round!
An Easy Crock Pot Pasta
- Spicy Italian sausage, veggies, and pasta in tomato sauce are always a crowd-pleaser, but cooked all at once? Yes, please! Save time and energy and let the crockpot do all the work!
- Economical and easy to use up those leftovers!
- This dish is so versatile! Extra veggies from the fridge or garden can be tossed in.
Ingredients in Sausage Pasta
SAUSAGE: Italian sausage is seasoned with fennel seeds and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. If using other meat like chicken breast or turkey, increase the Italian seasonings and add a little bit of fennel if you have it.
VEGETABLES: Eggplant, mushrooms, and tomatoes blend perfectly with the meat and seasonings. Not a fan of eggplant?! No problem, you can skip it and add bell peppers or add zucchini for the last hour of cooking time.
SAUCE: Tomato sauce is the star of crockpot sausage pasta! Don’t drain the cans of sauce and tomatoes
PASTA: Choose a medium shape of pasta that the tomato sauce can cling to and is about the same size as the cut veggies. Penne, rotini, rigatoni, or larger shells. For a low carb entrée, eliminate the pasta and increase the meat and veggies (or stir in roasted cauliflower).
How to Make Crock Pot Sausage Pasta
- Break up sausage & set aside.
- Place veggies, cooked sausage and remaining ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cover & cook low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Just before serving, stir in cooked pasta. Sprinkle on some parmesan for a cheesy topping!
Perfect Pasta
Some brands of pasta become mushy or even gluey in texture in the slow cooker. We prefer to cook the pasta separately and combine just before serving for perfect pasta every time.
Recipe Tips
- For best results, cook the pasta ‘al dente’ (to the bite) so it stays firm when it’s mixed in with the other ingredients.
- For a pasta Fagioli style soup, add in an extra can of crushed tomatoes and cannelloni beans.
- Save some of the pasta water in case the sauce needs to be thickened.
How to Store
Crockpot sausage pasta tastes better the next day when all the flavors have a chance to blend!
Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Freeze cold soup in zippered bags labeled with the date on the outside for up to 8 weeks. Place frozen soup on the stove and cook on low until reheated.
Our Fave Crock Pot Pasta
- CrockPot Lasagna – rich & zesty
- Crock Pot Mac and Cheese – so cheesy
- Crockpot Ravioli – only 4 ingredients
- Creamy Crockpot Tortellini – perfectly creamy & delicious
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese – great for a crowd
Did your family love this Crock Pot Sausage Pasta? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Crock Pot Sausage Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage links
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 eggplant cut into ½-inch cubes, 4 to 5 cups
- 8 ounces mushrooms thickly sliced
- 14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
- 14.5 ounces canned whole tomatoes lightly drained, 1 can
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 ounces penne rotini, or other medium pasta
- shredded Parmesan cheese fresh basil & parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Remove casings from sausage and break into large pieces. Brown in a skillet over medium heat making sure that you don't break the meat up too much. Drain fat.
- Place onion, eggplant, sausage, and mushrooms into the bottom of a 6qt slow cooker. Top with Sausage.
- Combine crushed and whole tomatoes (slightly squished), garlic, vinegar, & seasonings. Pour over the sausage and vegetables.
- Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Before serving, cook pasta according to package directions. Once cooked, stir pasta into the sauce.
- Top with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs for serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Entree, Pasta, Slow Cooker
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Adapted. (2018, Feb. 28). Slow Cooker Tomato & Sausage Pasta. Canadian Living, One Pot Suppers, 90.
Question: Can your recipes in the crockpot be cooked in an instant pot? If so do you have a conversion chart for timing?
Love your recipes!
I haven’t tried this in an Instant Pot so I can’t say for sure, Let us know how it goes!
In the Crock Pot Sausage Pasta recipe, do you cook the meat first?
Sorry for the confusion. Yes, the sausage is browned first and added with the vegetables.
I love your recipes every one is so simple and easy.
Thanks, Hazel! So happy to hear you are enjoying them.