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Tuesday nights used to mean scrambling through the pantry at 6 PM trying to figure out what to feed everyone. Then I threw sausage, pasta, and a random honey garlic sauce together out of desperation, and my picky eaters scraped their plates clean without a single complaint. This honey garlic sausage pasta has that magical combination of sweet and savory that makes kids and adults equally obsessed, and it comes together faster than ordering takeout.
Jump to:
- What is Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
- How To Make Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
- What Pairs Well With Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta?
- Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Variations
- Equipment You'll Need
- Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh
- Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sweet and Savory Perfection Made Simple
- Related
- Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
What is Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
Honey garlic sausage pasta is a one pan skillet dinner featuring sliced smoked sausage that's caramelized until sticky and golden, then tossed with cooked pasta in a glossy honey garlic sauce. The honey creates this gorgeous glaze that clings to every piece of sausage and pasta, while garlic adds savory depth that keeps the dish from being too sweet. The result is a sweet and savory comfort food dinner that tastes way more complex than its simple ingredient list suggests.
How To Make Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
Our honey garlic sausage pasta uses a two-step cooking method where you caramelize the sausage first to get that perfect golden crust, then build the sauce in the same pan to capture all those flavorful browned bits. The secret is getting the honey garlic sauce to the right consistency where it's thick enough to coat everything but not so thick it becomes sticky candy. After making this probably fifty times on rushed weeknights, I've learned exactly when to stop reducing that sauce.
Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 1 lb rotini or penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon salt for pasta water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Sausage and Sauce:
- 1 lb smoked sausage (kielbasa or beef sausage), sliced into rounds
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For Finishing:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
- Extra garlic if you're a garlic lover
Step by Step Method
Cook Your Pasta Perfectly
- Bring large pot of salted water to rolling boil
- Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions
- Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining
- Toss drained pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking
Caramelize the Sausage
- Slice sausage into ½ inch thick rounds
- Heat large skillet over medium high heat with no oil
- Add sausage pieces and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side
- Sausage should develop deep golden brown crust before flipping
Build the Sticky Honey Garlic Sauce
- Add butter to same skillet with sausage and let melt
- Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant
- Pour in honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar together
- Add red pepper flakes and black pepper, stirring constantly
Bring It All Together
- Let sauce simmer 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened
- Add cooked pasta to skillet and toss to coat everything
- Add splashes of reserved pasta water if sauce seems too thick
- Cook 1 to 2 more minutes until pasta absorbs some sauce
What Pairs Well With Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta?
This rich honey garlic sausage pasta pairs beautifully with simple green salad, steamed broccoli, or roasted asparagus to balance the sweetness. We love serving it alongside garlic bread for soaking up extra sauce, or with coleslaw for crunchy contrast. For complete dinners, try it with sautéed green beans, corn on the cob, or roasted Brussels sprouts. The sweet-savory flavor works surprisingly well with pretty much any vegetable side dish.
Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Variations
Spicy Honey Garlic Version
- Double the red pepper flakes for extra heat
- Add sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the glaze
- Use spicy smoked sausage instead of regular
- Perfect for people who like sweet and spicy together
Creamy Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
- Stir in ½ cup heavy cream after adding pasta
- Add splash of chicken broth for saucier consistency
- Finish with grated Parmesan cheese for richness
- Transforms it into comfort food casserole style
Vegetable Loaded Skillet
- Add bell peppers, snap peas, and broccoli with sausage
- Toss in baby spinach at the end for color
- Use whole wheat pasta for extra nutrition
- Sneaks vegetables into picky eater dinners
Asian Inspired Honey Garlic Pasta
- Replace soy sauce with teriyaki sauce
- Add fresh ginger with the garlic for zing
- Toss in snow peas and carrots for crunch
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions
Equipment You'll Need
- Large pot for boiling pasta
- Heavy bottomed skillet or wok for even browning
- Sharp knife for slicing sausage uniformly
- Wooden spoon for stirring and tossing
- Measuring cups and spoons for sauce
- Colander for draining pasta
Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh
Best Fresh
- Serve immediately for best texture and glossy sauce
- The honey garlic glaze is stickiest right after cooking
- Pasta stays perfectly coated when fresh and hot
- Leftovers are good but fresh is definitely superior
Make Ahead Strategy
- Cook pasta and sausage up to 2 days ahead separately
- Store sauce ingredients mixed but not cooked in refrigerator
- Combine everything in hot skillet when ready to serve
- Freshen with splash of water or broth when reheating
Reheating Instructions
- Reheat in skillet over medium heat with splash of water
- Microwave individual portions 60 to 90 seconds stirring halfway
- Add extra honey and soy sauce if glaze has dried out
- Avoid oven reheating as it dries out the pasta
Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Top Tips
The biggest mistake people make is not caramelizing the sausage enough before adding the sauce. I used to throw everything in the pan at once because I was rushing, and the sausage would just steam and turn gray instead of getting that gorgeous golden crust. My neighbor Carmen (who's from Louisiana and knows her way around sausage) watched me cook this one night and literally took the spoon out of my hand. "Hannah, patience," she said, and made me wait while each sausage piece got properly browned. That caramelization is where all the flavor lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of sausage?
Yes! Italian sausage, kielbasa, andouille, or even chicken sausage all work great. Just make sure it's fully cooked or pre-cooked smoked sausage for easy preparation.
How do I prevent the honey from burning?
Keep heat at medium after adding the honey and stir constantly. The sauce should bubble gently, not violently boil. Lower heat if it starts to darken too quickly.
Can I make this dish less sweet?
Reduce honey to ¼ cup and add extra soy sauce or a squeeze of lemon juice to balance flavors with more savory and tangy notes.
What pasta shape works best?
Short pasta shapes like rotini, penne, or rigatoni work perfectly because they catch the sticky sauce in their ridges and hold onto the glaze.
Sweet and Savory Perfection Made Simple
Fifty desperate Tuesday nights later, this honey garlic sausage pasta has saved dinner more times than I can count. Sometimes the best recipes are born from pantry diving and hoping for the best.
Craving more satisfying pasta? Our Pastalaya Recipe brings Cajun spice to one-pot pasta dinners, while Italian Drunken Noodles offer bold Thai-Italian fusion flavors. For creamy comfort, try our Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta that uses similar skillet techniques with spicy Southern flair.
Snap a pic of your glossy honey garlic sausage pasta and tag @HannahAndSproutKitchen with #HoneyGarlicSausagePasta! I scroll through everyone's photos when I need dinner inspiration on those rough evenings.
Star ⭐️ Rate this honey garlic sausage pasta recipe and let us know what sausage you used!
Related
Looking for other recipes like honey garlic sausage pasta? Try these:
- Pizza Burger Pie40 Minutes
- Alice Springs Chicken40 Minutes
- Creamy Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta25 Minutes
- Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice30 Minutes
Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta
Equipment
- Large pot (For boiling pasta)
- Skillet or sauté pan (For caramelizing sausage and sauce)
- Sharp knife (To slice sausage evenly)
- Wooden spoon (For stirring sauce and pasta)
- Measuring cups and spoons (For sauce accuracy)
- Colander (To drain cooked pasta)
- Mixing bowl (For cornstarch slurry)
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta - Or fusilli, cooked al dente
- 1 tablespoon Salt - For pasta water
- 1 lb Smoked sausage - Or kielbasa, sliced into rounds
- 2 tablespoon Butter - For caramelizing sausage
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil - Adds flavor and prevents sticking
- ⅓ cup Honey - Use real honey for caramelization
- 6 cloves Garlic - Minced
- 3 tablespoon Soy sauce - Adds umami depth
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar - Balances sweetness
- ½ teaspoon Red pepper flakes - Optional for mild heat
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper - Freshly ground
- 2 teaspoon Cornstarch - Mixed with 2 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon Pasta water - For loosening sauce
- Fresh parsley - Chopped, for garnish
- Sesame seeds - Optional garnish
Instructions
- Boil in salted water until al dente; reserve water.
- Cut sausage into thick, even rounds.
- Sear in butter and oil until caramelized.
- Set aside to build glaze in same pan.
- Add garlic to skillet; cook until fragrant.
- Stir in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and seasonings.
- Add cornstarch slurry and simmer until sticky.
- Return sausage, add pasta, and toss with sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water for desired consistency.
- Top with parsley and sesame seeds before serving.
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