This easy Chorizo Pasta recipe is one of our favorite one pot pasta recipes and is ready in under 30 minutes! Full of flavor and super easy to make, this simple sausage pasta is perfect for busy weeknights.
Love yummy pasta dinners? Make sure to try my famous Baked Mac and Cheese and these easy Stuffed Shells!
Chorizo One Pot Pasta Recipe
Easy pasta recipes are weeknight dinner staples and are perfect for fall, winter and all school year long. Exceptionally simple to make with homey flavor, this simple Chorizo Pasta is sure to be a go-to for your family.
This one pot pasta recipe is the perfect dish to end the day. Cheesy, savory and so good! Serve with your favorite salad and dinner is done!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you love simple, easy dinners, this one pot pasta recipe is sure to be a hit! I love the flavor that the chorizo adds to the recipe but you can completely eliminate it to make this a vegetarian recipe if desired. Here’s why we love this chorizo pasta recipe:
- One pot. Not gonna lie, I love the easy clean up aspect of one pot pasta recipes and this one is no exception.
- Simple and delicious. This recipe is incredibly simple and quick to prepare yet has amazing flavor and a serious comfort food factor. Complete the meal with some fresh bread and a side salad and dinner is done.
- Go vegetarian. This dish transforms into a vegetarian option by simply eliminating the chorizo from the recipe. I’d add a bit more seasoning and cheese to compensate for the loss of flavor and texture from the chorizo.
Like it spicy? The amount of heat in this recipe is highly dependent on the chorizo you end up using. Depending on your spice preference, you may want to add your favofrite hot sauce or red chili flakes to your pasta once it’s finished cooking.
More Pasta Recipes
Pasta is a go to option for quick and easy meals, particularly on busy weeknights. Here are some more of our favorite pasta dinners:
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Lazy Day Lasagna
Chorizo One Pot Pasta Ingredients
This one pot pasta recipe uses mostly pantry ingredients so it’s a great recipe to turn to on a busy weeknight. As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need…
- chorizo – There are a couple of different types of chorizo. I used pork chorizo which has a crumbly texture and is similar to an Italian sausage or ground beef. Another type of chorizo is very similar to andouille sausage so you can use andouille sausage in a pinch. It will not be quite as spicy.
- tomato sauce – If you like a really saucy pasta, considering doubling the tomato sauce but make sure to add more seasoning to make up for the additional tomato sauce.
- fire-roasted diced tomatoes – you will need the entire can, undrained, for this recipe. Regular diced tomatoes could also be used. You can dice some fresh tomatoes if you prefer them, but you would need to add extra water or broth.
- tomato paste – adds deeper tomato flavor to the dish. Can be eliminated if you don’t have any on hand.
- low-sodium chicken broth or stock – you can use all water in this recipe but I find the broth or stock adds another layer of flavor. Beef broth or stock can also be used.
- rigatoni pasta – or other large, tubular pasta.
- seasonings: salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder
- Parmesan cheese – Mozzarella cheese is a great choice as well.
To Garnish
Garnishing this chorizo recipe is completely optional but adds to the flavor and freshness of this dish. Here are some of my favorite garnishes:
- minced parsley
- thinly sliced fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
- red pepper flakes
Any similar, tube-shaped pasta will work great in this chorizo recipe. You can also use other shaped pasta, or even long pasta if you prefer. Some pastas may take longer to cook than others so be sure to check on your pasta often
How To Make Chorizo Pasta
- Cook chorizo. Cook the chorizo sausage until the meat starts to brown and thicken slightly.
- Add flavor. Stir in the tomato sauce, fire roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Pasta time. Add the rigatoni pasta and pour in the chicken broth and water, making sure the liquid slightly covers all of the pasta and then bring it to a boil. If you need to add a little liquid to cover the pasta, that’s okay.
- Cook. Decrease to a simmer, cover and let cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente, or to your desired softness.
- Serve. Stir in Parmesan cheese and serve garnished with parsley, basil, red pepper flakes and more Parmesan cheese (optional).
Make sure that the liquid covers the noodles completely, otherwise they won’t cook evenly. Add additional broth or water if needed. Note: water can be replaced with additional stock or broth if desired. Make sure to use low-sodium!
Storage Information
Store leftover chorizo pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: Let cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer bag. Pasta can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave or on the stove with a little added liquid over low heat, stirring frequently.
Chorizo One Pot Pasta Recipe FAQs
I love the heat in the chorizo sausage, but if you don’t like the spice level, you can choose your favorite type of sausage or chorizo to use in this recipe instead.
Make this pasta a little healthier by adding some veggies. Try some bell peppers, onions, squash, or zucchini. You can add them at the beginning with the sausage to soften them and fill them with flavor.
If you’d like a spicier version, you can use a can or two of spicy Rotel (diced tomatoes with chili) instead of the fire roasted tomatoes. Use the spice level you prefer to get the perfect results!
I know there are some great plant-based chorizo options available these days and would be terrific in this recipe.
More Pasta Recipes
How To Make Chorizo One Pot Pasta
Chorizo Pasta (One Pot Pasta Recipe)
Ingredients
- 11 ounces pork chorizo
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes undrained
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups water or use part chicken or beef broth or stock
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth or stock
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
To Garnish (Optional
- minced parsley
- thinly sliced fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
- red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the chorizo sausage in a large pot or dutch oven over medium high heat until the meat starts to brown and thicken slightly.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, fire roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
- Add the rigatoni pasta and pour in the chicken broth and water, making sure the liquid slightly covers all of the pasta and then bring it to a boil.
- Decrease to a simmer, cover and let cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente, or to your desired softness.
- Remove from heat and top with Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
- Serve garnished with parsley, basil, red pepper flakes and more Parmesan cheese (optional).
Corinna says
Easiest recipe yet so tasty!
I make this all the time and the minimal clean up is my second favorite part (only after the taste). I add sweet onions and sometimes a little goat cheese instead of Parmesan.
Do yourself a favor and try it!
Katrina says
Very tasty, delicious. Followed recipe, except I used 2 cups of pasta, 3 cups chicken broth. Love IT. Made 8-9+ cups.
Thank you.
Bonnie says
I need this recipe. And I added a little bit of Fire roasted tomatoes With green chilies. I even added a little hamburger as well．
It was a hit. With me and A few of my neighbors, I share it with, & everybody loved it. I definitely will make it again.
Thank you from all of us
andy says
awesome tasty recipe, had it tonight, easy to make, very flavourful….well done
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Andy!
Bonnie Eaton says
I made the rigatoni recipe except I didn’t have rigatoni I used Penne noodles. I added a few green chili peppers (they’re not hot) and some cilantro, onions, and finally Hamburger along with the chorizo.
I’ve got to say I enjoyed this recipe so very much and it was so simple.
I will indeed pass it along.
Thank you so much