Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Smoked Mozzarella

Pasta with a tomato sauce with Italian turkey sausage and smoked mozzarella cheese.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

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Updated November 03, 2021
Elise Bauer
A bowl of smoked sausage pasta.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Have you ever tried smoked mozzarella cheese? It's sort of like a mozzarella version of gouda. I had never encountered it until my father used it in a recipe he got from a local butcher shop.

This is the recipe, with lots of changes from the original which called for three times as much cheese. We found with smoked mozzarella that, unlike regular mozzarella which is quite mild in flavor, a little goes a long way.

We've made this several times; it now makes a regular appearance in my parent's home because it's quick, filling, and tasty. It also makes terrific leftovers!

More Easy Pasta Dinners

Fettuccine with Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage

Easy Italian Sausage Spaghetti

Creamy Ziti Florentine

Shrimp with Olives, Tomatoes, and Orzo

Shrimp Pasta alla Vodka

Pasta with sausage in a bowl with a white linen next to it.
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Smoked Mozzarella

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 servings

Turkey sausage is rather lean. If you use regular pork sausage, cook it up first, then discard the rendered fat and use the residual fat in the pan to cook the onions and garlic.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 14-ounce cans crushed tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 pound Italian turkey sausage, bulk or cut into 1/2-inch slices*
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • 3/4 pound fusilli pasta
  • Salt
  • 3 ounces smoked Mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • *If you put the sausage in the freezer first for a half hour, it will be easier to slice.

Method

  1. Sauté onions and garlic:

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.

    pasta-sausage-smoked-mozz-method-1
    Elise Bauer
  2. Add tomatoes and sausage:

    Add the tomatoes to the pan (if using canned whole tomatoes shred them with your fingers as you add them to the pan). Include the juices.

    Add the sausage and red pepper flakes. Cover and cook on medium low heat for 20 minutes, until the sauce is thickened.

    pasta-sausage-smoked-mozz-method-2
    Elise Bauer
    pasta-sausage-smoked-mozz-method-3
    Elise Bauer
  3. Cook the pasta:

    While the sauce is cooking, cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a teaspoon and a half of salt for every quart of water.

    Cook the pasta according to pasta package instructions, until al dente, or cooked through, but still a bit firm. Drain the water from the pasta.

    Combine the pasta and the sauce in a large serving bowl.

  4. Add smoked mozzarella and Parmesan:

    Stir in the cubed smoked mozzarella cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has softened and is a bit melty. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

    Overhead view of smoked sausage pasta in a bowl.
    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer