Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet (Printable)

Juicy smoked sausage and pasta tossed in a sweet sticky honey garlic skillet sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 14 oz smoked sausage, sliced into rounds

→ Pantry Staples

02 - 9 oz penne or fusilli pasta (dry)
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
05 - 3 tbsp honey
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste

→ Aromatics

07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

→ Liquids

09 - 1 ½ cups chicken broth

→ Herbs & Spices

10 - 1 tsp dried chili flakes (optional)
11 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside, reserving a small amount of pasta water if needed.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until well caramelized on both sides.
03 - Add sliced onion to the skillet and sauté for approximately 3 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, and tomato paste. Stir thoroughly to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
05 - Return the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss vigorously to coat evenly in the sauce. Let simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings nicely to the pasta.
06 - Season with chili flakes and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat immediately and sprinkle generously with fresh parsley. Serve hot while the sauce is still glossy and sticky.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce hits this perfect balance of savory and sweet that makes you want to lick the plate
  • Everything cooks in one skillet so cleanup is almost nonexistent
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
02 -
  • Undercook your pasta by about two minutes since it will absorb sauce and finish cooking in the skillet
  • Keep the heat at medium once you add the sauce so the honey doesnt burn or turn bitter
  • The sauce will look thin at first but trust the process, it thickens up beautifully in those last few minutes
03 -
  • Pat the sausage slices dry before searing if they seem overly moist, this helps them brown better
  • Warm your honey slightly in the microwave if its crystalized so it incorporates smoothly into the sauce

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