Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
A savory pasta dish with Italian sausage in a sticky honey garlic sauce, offering a perfect blend of sweetness, umami, and a hint of spice for an easy, flavorful weeknight meal.
Equipment
- 1 large skillet
- 1 pot
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne rigatoni, or short pasta
- 1 lb Italian or smoked sausage sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 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
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and brown the sliced sausage until crispy, about 5-7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant without burning.
- Add honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar; stir to combine.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly; add red pepper flakes if desired.
- Return sausage to skillet and simmer in sauce for 3-4 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat with sauce, adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen.
- Stir in butter to enrich the sauce, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and garnish with chopped parsley and optional Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.
- Substitute sausage types as preferred.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.