Turkey and Asparagus Skillet Pasta

A one dish meal of turkey Italian sausage and asparagus, with pasta in tomato sauce, plus cheese all cooked in only one skillet.

Both of my parents worked while I was growing up so when my sisters and I were old enough to use the stove we each had a night to prepare dinner for the family.  Since we were not very experienced cooks my mom would buy easy to prepare meals like hamburger helper.  This dish reminds me of hamburger helper, from my childhood, but it's so much better.

Like #HamburgerHelper but better | Turkey & Asparagus #SkilletPasta  [Tweet this]

This is great for a busy night when you don't have a lot of time to spend on dinner.  It's ready in about 30 minutes and it doesn't require much prep.  Also, it's all cooked in the same skillet so you don't have much clean-up.  My favorite thing about skillet pasta is that you don't have to move and lift a large pot of boiling water (I have balance problems so I have to use one hand to keep me balanced when I stand and I need both to lift and drain large pasta pots...hence my difficulty).  I think skillet pasta tastes even better than pasta the usual way.  As the pasta simmers in its sauce and water I think it picks up much more flavor than pasta just topped or tossed with sauce.  This is my new favorite way to cook pasta.

#Dinnerin30: Turkey and Asparagus #SkilletPasta  [Tweet this]

Turkey and Asparagus Skillet Pasta

Cook time:  30 minutes
Servings:  4-6

Ingredients:

1 pound turkey Italian sausage
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
2 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried minced onion
1/4-1/2 cup roasted garlic (or 2 Tbsp garlic powder)
1 bunch of asparagus, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 13 oz box of whole wheat rotini
3 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup parmesan (optional)
1 cup mozzarella (optional)

Brown the ground Italian sausage in a 12-inch skillet, over medium heat, until cooked through.

Meanwhile, add tomatoes, basil, onion, and garlic to blender and puree.

Once sausage is cooked pour in the olive oil and tomato puree.  Add the asparagus and pasta then pour in the water (until pasta is just covered). Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is just a little undercooked (not quite al dente).

Turn off heat, stir in cheeses (if using), cover, and let set for about 10 minutes.  The last of the liquid will absorb into the pasta, pasta will be tender, and cheese melted.

Serve immediately.

Makes about 6 servings.

Enjoy.

For more pasta recipes check out:

Sun-dried Tomato Olive and Asparagus Pasta

Clam Linguine                                                  -

Mushroom Spinach         Tomato Pasta       -

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Sun-dried Tomato, Olive, and Asparagus Pasta

Sun-dried tomatoes, olives, asparagus and Italian sausage in a chunky pasta sauce served over whole wheat pasta and topped with parmesan.

Pasta.  I love making my own pasta sauce.  It's actually pretty simple and you can add just about anything you like to it.  I always keep diced tomatoes in my pantry for homemade pasta sauce (they are useful in many other recipes too).  So if I have nothing in the house to eat I can usually throw together some kind of pasta dish.

Diced tomatoes are a useful pantry staple.  [Tweet this]

I love sun-dried tomatoes.  They are super flavorful and have a great chewiness. I'll eat them by themselves, as a spread, in sauces, they are very versatile and enhance any dish to which they're added. When I thought about making a pasta sauce they were a natural choice.

Sundried tomatoes are super flavorful and versatile.  [Tweet this]

Everything else in this pasta was added on a whim,  I knew I wanted a sun-dried tomato pasta sauce, but that was all I planned.  I had some thawed Italian sausage so that seemed like an obvious addition.  The jar of olives was beside the tomatoes so I figured it wouldn't hurt to add some. Then, I didn't feel like cooking the asparagus separately for a side vegetable so in the sauce it went. Everything together made an absolutely delicious, flavorful, and filling meal.  Sometimes the most unplanned concoctions turn out to be the most delicious.

Unplanned concoctions can turn into delicious meals.  [Tweet this]

Sun-dried Tomato, Olive, and Asparagus Pasta

Cook time:  30-45 minutes
Servings:  4-6

Ingredients:

1/2 -3/4-pound spicy Italian sausage
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
15 sundried tomatoes, sliced
10 olives, sliced
1 bunch asparagus cut bite-sized

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the sausage.  When sausage is mostly cooked, drain away excess grease.

Lower heat to about low to medium-low and add the oil, garlic and shallots.  Cook and stir until just tender and fragrant then add everything but the asparagus.  Cover and let simmer for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile cook pasta.

Uncover the skillet and add the asparagus and a little wine or pasta water if needed for more liquid.  Cook until asparagus is tender to your liking (I like my asparagus somewhat crisp but if you like it pretty soft feel free to add it with all of the other ingredients).

Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Remove from heat and serve over pasta of your choice.  Makes 4-6 servings.

Top with parmesan if you like.

Enjoy.

For more pasta recipes check out:

Very Veggie Pasta     -	Mushroom Spinach Tomato Pasta	Chicken Parmesan     -
Blue Cheese Alredo	Shrimp Scampi	Clam Linguine

Linked to:  Best of the weekend, Pretty Pintastic, 2 Cup, Treasure Box, Lou Lou Girs, Talk, Wake Up, Whimsy, Full Plate, Freedom, Food Friends

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