Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet: An easy, one-pan dinner bursting with sweet, savory, and garlicky flavor. Your new family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Stars:
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or sweet, casing removed)
- 12 oz short pasta (penne, rotini, or similar)
- Flavor Makers:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced (or more, I won’t judge!)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little warmth)
- Pantry Staples:
- 4 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Finishing Touches:
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage:: Grab your biggest skillet – a 12-inch cast iron or heavy-bottomed pan is what I usually reach for. Drizzle in a tiny bit of olive oil, just enough to get things going, then add your Italian sausage, casing removed if it has one. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks over medium-high heat. You want it nicely browned, with some crispy bits, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes. This step is where so much flavor starts to develop for our Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet, so don’t rush it! I always smell that amazing savory aroma filling the kitchen, a promise of deliciousness.
- Sauté the Aromatics:: Once the sausage is cooked through and looking good, drain off most of that rendered fat, leaving just a tablespoon or two in the pan. Add your minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir them around with the sausage for about 30 seconds to a minute, until the garlic smells fragrant – oh, that smell! Be careful not to burn it; burnt garlic is a sad, bitter thing. I’ve definitely scorched garlic before when I got distracted by a kid asking for a snack, and had to start over. Keep an eye on it!
- Whisk Up the Sauce:: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and soy sauce. This is the simple magic behind the “sticky” part of our Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet. It’s a quick step, but it’s what gives the sauce its incredible balance of sweet and savory. Make sure it’s well combined. Sometimes I add an extra splash of honey here because, let’s be real, I have a sweet tooth! Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust to your liking.
- Add Broth and Pasta:: Pour the chicken broth and your whisked honey-soy mixture into the skillet with the sausage and garlic. Give it a good stir, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – that’s pure flavor right there! Then, add your uncooked pasta to the skillet. Make sure the pasta is mostly submerged in the liquid. If it’s not, you might need a tiny splash more broth or water. This is the crucial moment for the pasta to soak up all that deliciousness for your Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet.
- Simmer to Perfection:: Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cover the skillet and let it cook for about 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Stir it occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom and to ensure even cooking. I always set a timer, but I also peek and stir a few times; sometimes my stove runs hotter than others. You want the pasta tender, but with a slight bite, and the sauce should have thickened beautifully. It should smell absolutely divine by now!
- Finish and Serve:: Once the pasta is cooked and the sauce has thickened to a glossy, sticky consistency, remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in your fresh chopped parsley. Give it one last good stir to coat everything evenly. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed – maybe a little salt, maybe another tiny drizzle of honey. Serve your Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet immediately, perhaps with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if you’re feeling fancy. It looks so vibrant and smells even better, trust me!