Simple Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet Recipe
Crafting a sticky honey garlic sausage pasta skillet will revolutionize your weeknight dinner routine with minimal effort.
Fragrant herbs and savory sausage mingle in this quick one-pan marvel.
Drizzles of golden honey create a glossy, caramelized coating that makes every bite irresistible.
Kitchen novices and seasoned cooks alike can master this simple yet impressive dish.
Rich flavors blend seamlessly, promising a meal that feels both comforting and sophisticated.
Minimal ingredients and streamlined preparation mean you can enjoy restaurant-quality dining without complex techniques.
Jump into this delectable experience and watch ordinary ingredients become an extraordinary feast.
Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet Essentials
Ingredients for Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet
Main Ingredients:Sauce Ingredients:Aromatics and Garnish:Step-by-Step Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet
Boil the Pasta
Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring water to a rolling boil over high heat.
Drop in the pasta and cook until it reaches that perfect al dente texture. Drain the pasta, keeping it ready for the next stage of deliciousness.
Let the pasta sit without rinsing to maintain its starchy goodness.
Sizzle the Sausage
Grab a large skillet and warm up some olive oil over medium heat.
Slide in the sliced sausage and let it dance around the pan. Cook until the edges turn golden brown and crispy, giving it occasional stirs.
Lower the heat and toss in minced garlic, letting it release its aromatic magic for about a minute.
Create the Sticky Sauce
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together:
Pour this liquid gold into the skillet with the sausage.
Let it simmer and bubble, stirring frequently until the sauce transforms into a glossy, clingy coating.
Marry the Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet.
Gently toss everything together using tongs or a spatula, ensuring each pasta strand gets a perfect sauce embrace. Let it cook for a few more minutes to blend the flavors.
Sprinkle salt and black pepper to your heart’s content.
Serve and Enjoy
Pull the skillet off the heat.
Shower the dish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately while it’s hot and inviting.
Expert Tips for Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet
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Storage Guidelines for Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet
FAQs
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes, you can substitute the pasta with other shapes like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli. Just ensure the pasta can hold the sauce well.
Is this dish spicy?
The recipe has a mild heat from red pepper flakes, which you can adjust or omit based on your spice preference. Add more flakes for extra kick or skip them entirely.
How do I prevent the sausage from burning?
Cook sausage over medium heat and stir occasionally. If it’s browning too quickly, lower the heat to prevent burning while ensuring a nice caramelized exterior.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Replace sausage with plant-based sausage alternatives or use sliced mushrooms for a similar texture and umami flavor profile.

Sticky Honey Garlic Sausage Pasta Skillet Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Sticky honey garlic sausage pasta skillet packs weeknight flavor into one pan, pairing savory sausage with sweet garlic sauce for a quick, satisfying dish.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian (smoked, or chicken sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds)
- 8 oz penne or rotini pasta (or pasta of choice)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low-sodium optional)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, adjust to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (finely chopped for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in a generously salted water at high temperature for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain without rinsing to preserve starchy texture for sauce adherence.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Sizzle sausage slices for 5-7 minutes, rotating periodically until golden and crisp-edged.
- Reduce skillet temperature to medium-low. Introduce minced garlic and sauté briefly until aromatic.
- Whisk honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a separate container. Pour mixture into skillet with sausage and garlic.
- Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes, stirring consistently until slightly thickened and clinging to sausage pieces.
- Incorporate cooked pasta into skillet, gently folding with tongs to distribute sauce evenly. Heat for additional 2-3 minutes to marry flavors.
- Season with salt and black pepper according to preference. Ensure uniform coating of pasta and sausage.
- Remove from heat. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across surface. Serve immediately while piping hot and sauce is glossy.
Notes
- Swap sausage with plant-based alternatives like tempeh or seitan for a vegetarian version that maintains similar texture and flavor profile.
- Reduce honey quantity or substitute with maple syrup for lower glycemic index and diabetic-friendly adaptation.
- Reserve pasta cooking water as backup liquid to adjust sauce consistency if too thick or dry during final mixing stage.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes quantity based on personal heat tolerance or family preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Nate Harper
Founder & Recipe Curator
Expertise
Single-Recipe Development, Farm-to-Table Cooking, Seasonal Menu Planning, Culinary Storytelling, Home Kitchen Innovation
Education
Cascade Culinary Institute – Central Oregon Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Farm-to-table cuisine, sustainable cooking practices, and seasonal recipe creation.
Nate studied under experienced chefs who emphasized local sourcing, minimal waste, and building recipes from fresh, simple ingredients.
Nate Harper is the founder and creative force behind Make, Take, Bake. Raised in the wild beauty of Oregon’s high desert, Nate grew up surrounded by family gardens, farmers’ markets, and home kitchens that celebrated the seasons.
His early love for simple, honest food evolved into a professional passion when he attended Cascade Culinary Institute, where he sharpened his skills in creating recipes that are sustainable, satisfying, and made for everyday life.
Nate’s goal is to make cooking feel accessible, free of fuss, and full of flavor. He believes a single, thoughtfully built dish can stand alone, and sometimes even steal the show.