italian sausage ragu ← Back to Recipes

Italian Sausage Ragu

Ingredients: Italian sausage, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, dried basil, garlic powder, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, dried oregano, crushed red pepper, dry penne, dinner rolls.

This meal kit contains

  • Italian sausage
  • diced garlic, onion, carrots, & celery
  • chunky tomato sauce
  • spice packet
  • penne pasta
  • dinner rolls

You will also need

  • any kind of cooking oil (for example, olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil)
  • salt and pepper
  1. Bring a medium-sized pot of water to boil for the penne. Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt and the penne to the pot. Let the pasta boil until it is tender, about 11-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat a splash of oil (a spoonful or two) in another pot over medium-high heat. Remove the thin casing around the Italian sausages and add the sausage meat to the pot. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, stirring and breaking up the meat as it cooks, until it browns lightly and the meat looks similar to cooked ground beef.
  3. Add the diced garlic, onion, carrots, & celery and a pinch of salt and pepper to the sausage. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is clear and fragrant.
  4. Add the spices, the chunky tomato sauce to the sausage and vegetables. Stir to combine, cover the pot, and bring the sauce to a bubble. Once the sauce is bubbling, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for another 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Add the cooked penne pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to incorporate with the pasta, and then portion into bowls. Serve with dinner rolls and enjoy!

Tips & Tricks

Cut the dinner rolls in half and place a pat of butter (not included) with a pinch of garlic powder (or minced fresh garlic) (not included) in between the halves. Then microwave them on high for about 15 seconds, and you’ve got a warm, buttery garlic roll to eat with your pasta!

The ragu's got lots of vegetables, but you can add even more if you'd like! Spinach goes great in this sauce - we recommend adding about 1-2 cups of spinach per person during Step 5 (when you add the tomato sauce). You can also add sliced zucchini if you'd prefer - about 1/2 cup per person should do the trick!