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This sun-dried tomato pasta is loaded with crispy bites of smoked sausage, creamy Gruyere cheese, and those amazing sweet-tangy sun-dried tomatoes that make everything taste gourmet. Best part? It all cooks in one skillet, so you get maximum flavor with minimal cleanup.
Is it a secret ingredient if the rest of the world already knows about it?
Adding sun-dried tomatoes to everything over here.
I only just discovered sun-dried tomatoes about 10 short years ago and now they’re my secret ingredient to so many recipes.
That burst of sweet, tangy, vibrant flavor – I just can’t handle the goodness. They make everything better, and in this sun-dried tomato pasta skillet, they’re the star of the show.
You know those nights when you want something that tastes fancy but don’t want to spend an hour in the kitchen or wash a million dishes? That’s the perfect time to bust out the sun-dried tomatoes.
This is one of those magical one-skillet meals where everything cooks together and somehow tastes way more sophisticated than the effort you put in.
It’s comfort food that happens to be impressive.
If you’re also a sun-dried tomato lover, you should try my Tuscan white bean soup! It’s full of ’em. Same goes for my chicken florentine.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
- One skillet, zero stress. Everything cooks together in about 25 minutes, which means less cleanup and more time for important things, whether that’s helping with homework or catching up on Netflix.
- Tastes way fancier than it is. Sun-dried tomatoes and Gruyere cheese make this feel gourmet, but it’s actually super approachable for any weeknight.
- Fancy without breaking the bank. We’re using a good quality cheese and pairing it with a budget-friendly sausage. It’s all about the balance here.
What Readers are Saying!
“Fantastic recipe! Made it for dinner tonight & the hubby LOVED it!” – Kim
Swaps & Tips
- No Gruyere? Swiss or sharp cheddar work great too – Gruyere just adds that extra nutty flavor.
- Different sausage? Try chicken sausage, Italian sausage, or even cheddar bratwurst for a fun twist.
- No half-and-half? Mix equal parts heavy cream and milk, or use all milk for a lighter version.
- Sun-dried tomato tip: Use the dry-packed kind, not oil-packed – they distribute better and don’t make the dish greasy. If you only have oil-packed, just pat them dry before using.
- Pasta swap: Campanelle is so pretty that I really love it. Penne, ziti, or even macaroni will work here.
The key to perfect sun-dried tomato pasta is browning the sausage really well – those crispy edges add so much flavor to the whole dish. Don’t rush this part!
Storage
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
Reheat with a splash of broth or milk to keep the pasta moist.
I haven’t frozen this one myself and I’m not certain it will reheat well.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 13 ounces smoked sausage
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small sweet onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound campanelle pasta
- 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes dry-packed, see notes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cups half and half
- 3/4 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Instructions
- Slice the sausage into thin rounds.
- Heat a 12 inch skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Add the smoked sausage to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until the sausage is getting some color. Add the onions to the skillet and cook, stirring often, until the onions are softened up a bit and the sausage is nicely browned, about 5 more minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and cook 30 seconds.
- Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Pour in the broth and half and half. Stir well to combine.
- Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer.
- Cook for 12 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and stir in the grated cheese until melted.
- Sprinkle with chives before serving.
Pizza recipe says
This is one of the best recipes. Great work keeps it up. Thank you for sharing this spectacular recipe
Kim says
Fantastic recipe! Made it for dinner tonight & the hubby LOVED it!
John says
I made this last night, it was so tasty and easy to make! Just enough cheese to not smother it or make it a mac&cheese while all of the ingredients were just balanced enough.
I found the recipe on delish.com which sent me here. They have parsley listed instead of chives but I dont think that substitution matters much.
The only change I made other than the parsley was that I used hot italian sausage since I wast sure where to find smoked sausage. And i added in some habanero cheese for a little kick. 🙂
I would highly recommend this dish and plan to make this again in the future.
Karly says
So glad that you enjoyed this, John! It’s truly one of my favorite pasta recipes. 🙂
The Recipes Pk says
I am a big fan of pasta recipes. I tried this recipe yesterday for my boyfriend and it made my day. Thanks for such a great recipe.
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s probably my favorite pasta dish. 🙂
Zubia khan says
Its so easy and delicious chicken pasta recipe – perfect for Iftar recipes. I’ll must try this
Jordana says
I have already had lunch when I stumbled over your post and saw the pics of sun dried tomato pasta skillet. I want to eat that. Thinking about it makes my mouth watering. Thanks for delicious recipe post. I will make this asap.
Maggie says
This seems like a dish I’ll be cooking this weekend! We always keep a giant jar of sun dried tomato. Don’t have sausage but I’ll crack open a can of Spam. My mouth starts to water just thinking about it!
Karly says
Hope yo love this one!
Debs says
Absolutely love this Karley! I’m a huge fan of anything smoked, sausages, cheese , you name it. This speaks my love language!
Deb Hatton says
Looks absolutely delicious! Think I’ll have to try it for lunch with my goobers tomorrow. Do you add the pasta totally raw? It looks a little bit cooked in the video.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
This is so up my alley when it comes to weeknight dinners!!
Neha says
This looks so good. I must make it soon.
Karly says
Let me know what you think! 🙂
Andi says
My dad was ALSO a giant fan of smoked sausage (and ring bologna), though more often than not he’d just boil the darn thing and serve it with tater tots. Love tater tots.
I like to slice smoked sausage and toss it in with whatever vegetables I’m roasting (currently butternut squash, carrots, and Brussels sprouts).
Karly says
Oh, I could get down with some smoked sausage and tater tots!! With roasted veggies too…that’s such an easy dinner option.
Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness says
This dish sounds yummy. I love smoked sausage too but never thought about combining with pasta and sun-dried tomatoes. Great recipe!
Karly says
Oh, I hope you try it! So good!