30-Minute Spicy Italian Sausage Penne with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A quick stovetop pasta dish combining spicy Italian sausage and roasted cherry tomatoes for a vibrant, hearty meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, spicy Italian sausage, cherry tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 540 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 540 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

12 oz penne pasta
12 oz, casings removed spicy Italian sausage
2 cups, halved cherry tomatoes
3 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup, grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp, divided kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water (1 tbsp kosher salt) to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente; drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz spicy Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon; cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Step 3: Add 3 tbsp olive oil, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes to the skillet; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Stir in 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes and season with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper; cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes soften and release their juices.
Step 5: Add the drained penne and reserved 1/2 cup pasta water to the skillet. Toss with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese until the sauce coats the pasta evenly and thickens, about 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning with remaining 1/2 tsp kosher salt if needed and serve immediately.