Main MealsOne Pot Recipes06.05.2026

Spicy Sausage & Balsamic Rotini

Name: Spicy Sausage & Balsamic Rotini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 oz rotini, or other short pasta; 1 bunch broccolini, about 6 oz, sliced; 1 cup cabbage/carrot mix, sliced, about 3 oz; 1 cup spinach, chopped; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 Italian chicken sausages, raw and casings removed; 2 oz grated Parmesan; 1 lemon, zest and juice; 4 tbsp tomato paste; 3 tbsp chili pepper paste; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp honey; 4-5 clove garlic, minced; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 30 min

Serves 4

A zippy one-pan pasta with spicy Italian sausage, balsamic-glazed veggies, and a bright hit of lemon and Parmesan.

Ingredients

8 oz rotini (or other short pasta)

1 bunch broccolini (about 6 oz, sliced)

1 cup cabbage/carrot mix (sliced, about 3 oz)

1 cup spinach (chopped)

1 tbsp olive oil

3 Italian chicken sausages (raw and casings removed)

2 oz grated Parmesan

1 lemon (zest and juice)

For the sauce

4 tbsp tomato paste

3 tbsp chili pepper paste

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp honey

4-5 clove garlic (minced)

1 tsp Italian seasoning

½ cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

In a medium pot of boiling water, cook the pasta until just under al dente and reserve 3/4 cup of pasta water.

In a large pan over medium heat, sauté the broccoli and cabbage in olive oil for 3-4 minutes until lightly browned, then set aside.

Break up and brown the ground sausage until fully cooked in the same pan.

In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients until combined. Add the sauce into the cooked sausage and stir for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.

Return the broccoli and cabbage mix to the pan.

Add the cooked pasta, Parmesan, lemon zest, chopped spinach and some reserved pasta water.

Toss until a light creamy sauce forms and the spinach is wilted.

Finish with lemon juice, black pepper, and extra Parmesan if desired.