The kids always asked for this meal during the week, it's certainly satisfying and filled their tummy and even the pickiest of eaters loved this fun fusilli corkscrew-shaped pasta.
It became not only one of the kid's favorite meals in our home but one of the tastiest meals to prepare in no time, and sometimes I even substituted sausage with ground beef if I didn't have it on hand.
There are many variations you can add to get even more vegetables and protein into this dish to become even more chock full of vitamins we will leave you a list of additions you can add.
If you can't find this cute little shaped pasta for this meal, of course, you can use any kinds you prefer in it, or try and order online with our link below.
Scroll to the bottom to get this delicious recipe and let your family be the judge of a new favorite dish in your home.
Easy Weeknight Meals
This meal is super easy to make in less than 30 minutes with all the right ingredients on hand.
The meal can also be prepared with jarred sauces your family prefers instead of fresh tomatoes.
Fusilli (pronounced foo-zee-lee) is a fun-shaped pasta that looks similar to a corkscrew and is certainly a wonderful match when it comes to this fresh chunky sauce as it clings to the pasta perfectly.
The curly edges will be filled with flavorful sauce in every bite.
The sauce is considered to be a ragu with meat in it and every bite has the essence of diced vegetables and a bit of sausage with this rich fresh tomato sauce in it.
Other Substitutions and Sauce Additions
- any kind of pasta you like can be used
- any other vegetables to substitute, sliced peppers, onions, sauteed mushrooms, spinach, escarole, onions, eggplant, zucchini slices
- roasted hot peppers, bell peppers, or jalapeno peppers
- meatballs, ground beef, sliced or cooked steak, pork or lamb, prosciutto, or capicola instead of sausage
- shrimp or another seafood you like
- always sauteed the meats using first to make sure they are flavored with garlic before adding them to the sauce
Pasta Suggestions
- baby rigatoni
- baby bowties
- mostaccioli
- penne
- baby seashells
- elbows
- rotini spirals Aka springs(we called them that as a kid), or cellentani which is a curly-style elbow, cavatappi
Ingredients You Will Need(for exact measurements scroll down to the recipe card)
- pasta of your choice cooked to package instructions
- fresh tomatoes, your favorite homemade sauce, or a favorite marinara store-bought jarred
- Italian sausage or another meat you prefer (boneless chicken, pork, ground sirloin)
- granulated garlic
- fresh basil
- cabernet, merlot of chicken broth
- salt, pepper
- Parmesano Reggiano cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese
- oregano
- olive oil
- white onion, carrot
- Optional Garnish: red pepper flakes, oregano
Tips
- cook any kind of pasta you like to package instructions
- to save time use a jarred marinara sauce
- if you're not a sausage lover add another boneless meat preferred
- to save time, air fry the sausage then slice it
- use a medley of vegetables and omit the meat for vegetarian
- use jarred roasted peppers to save time
- for a healthier version use turkey sausage, wheat, or a low-carb pasta of your choice
- if not fond of bell peppers add mushrooms or omit them completely
- always use Pecorino Romano freshly grated for best results in a pinch use the jarred kind
- this dish tastes great topped with shredded melted mozzarella for a bit of a twist
- substitute chicken broth for the wine for a non-alcohol dish
Pin for Later
More Recipes We Love
Mom's Homemade Italian Sausage Recipe
Pasta and Broccoli Aioli
Homemade Orecchiette
Comfort Food
If you have never tried the Italian version of homemade ragu, it's time to make this down-home comfort food and give this easy recipe a try!
I just love this dish especially on cooler days in the fall and all winter long.
This specific recipe came about when my grandmother lived with us when I was a child and she always made a big pan when plum tomatoes were in abundance in the summertime.
This sauce with sausage was also a favorite not to mention a squiggly pasta noodle was fun to eat.
Fusillioni Pasta with Sausage

Yield: 6
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 45 Min
This is a delicious easy dish with fun-shaped pasta and sausage in a fresh ragu sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of loose Italian sausage or remove from the casing if they only have links
- 2 tablespoons of vidalia or white onion, finely minced
- 3 cloves of smashed garlic cloves or finely minced
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 1 large finely chopped peeled carrot
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- 1 pound of plum tomatoes put through the food processor or use 1 - 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- 2 sprigs of fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley
- salt, black pepper to taste
- fusilli or rotini pasta cooked to package instructions in salted water and drained
- olive oil for sauteing the meat
- Optional: 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Garnish: chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, 1/4 cup Parmesano Reggiano cheese grated, and/or fresh basil
Instructions
- Saute the loose sausage in a large frying pan with two tablespoons of olive oil
- Let it get a little crunchy brown and crispy up a bit.
- Add the minced vegetables into the pan and both garlic.
- Saute for around 2 minutes.
- Add the broth, tomatoes, and around 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to your own taste, fresh basil and oregano if using.
- On low heat simmer this until all the vegetables are cooked and soft which takes around 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cook the pasta to package instructions (we like it al dente).
- Add some white wine, pasta water, or chicken broth if the sauce gets too thick.
- Place the pasta in a large pasta bowl, top with this ragu sauce, and sprinkle the top generously with Parmesano Reggiano grated cheese, all the rest of the fresh herbs and serve.
Notes
Pasta Suggestions
- baby rigatoni
- baby bowties
- mostaccioli
- penne
- baby seashells
- elbows
- rotini, springs(we called them that as a kid), or cellentani which is a curly-style elbow
Tips
- cook any kind of pasta you like to package instructions
- to save time use a jarred marinara sauce
- if you're not a sausage lover add another boneless meat preferred
- to save time, air fry the sausage then slice it
- use a medley of vegetables and omit the meat for vegetarian
- use jarred roasted peppers to save time
- for a healthier version use turkey sausage, wheat, or a low-carb pasta of your choice
- if not fond of bell peppers add mushrooms or omit them completely
- always use Pecorino Romano freshly grated for best results in a pinch use the jarred kind
- this dish tastes great topped with shredded melted mozzarella for a bit of a twist
- substitute chicken broth for the wine for a non-alcohol dish
Nutrition Facts
Calories
287.33Fat (grams)
22.71Sat. Fat (grams)
7Carbs (grams)
8.23Fiber (grams)
2.09Net carbs
6.17Sugar (grams)
4.17Protein (grams)
13.18Sodium (milligrams)
662.84Cholesterol (grams)
54.82Pin for Later
More Recipes To Try
Cacio e Pepe
Tomato Basil Pasta
Amatriciana
Rigatoni alla Zozzona
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2012. It was edited and re-published in 2022.
Wow, I sure would love a plate of this colorful, flavorful, and delicious pasta.I happen to have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, and just bought some Italian sausage from my favorite Italian meat market, along with the pork fat, for my crackling that I fried up for the biscuits...oh, just remembered, the pasta and the biscuits would be a perfect pairing:DDD
ReplyDeleteLovely flavourful combination
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons will sing your praises when I make this for them. It is everything a pasta casserole should be.It really sounds wonderful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteI used to make something similar when the kids are growing up - but not with the sun-dried tomatoes. This is indeed a warming, filling meal guaranteed to have everyone eat to the last bite.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I haven't added sun dried tomatoes to pasta with sausage but I will now. Such a beautiful dish.
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious Claudia. It's pasta night at our place tonight and I posted today about our first try at ravioli.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful weekend dish. I don't deal with sun-dried tomatoes but I know they would be wonderful here, especially utilizing the packing oil.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this comforting tasty dish.
Thanks for the kind words - that's a real compliment coming from you. Originally we used the same recipe (from a different source) as you Mama's Egg Noodles - here's my post - http://bigdudesramblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-pasta-finally.html. It was soft and delicious. If this is not your normal pasta dough can you give me a link to it, my searches didn't find anything.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet thoughts and condolences for my aunt. You are a gem!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is my favorite kind of pasta dish...with sausage, tomatoes and cream. And you added mushrooms to make it even more fabulous. Hope you've had a wonderful weekend...I'm trying like mad to catch up :)
Definitely agree, that you have to splurge every once in a while. I always love your pasta dishes, so many I've never heard of before. Corkscrew is so good and fun to eat :)
ReplyDeleteA nice splurge for a snowy Sunday! I love the corkscrews, but never can find them. And creamy tomato sauce is just perfect.
ReplyDeleteWow - this certainly looks amazing! You also used one of my favorite pasta shapes! Another winner - as always!
ReplyDeleteIt's a really dreary day here and a plate of your pasta and sausage would really cheer me up! I would go to the butcher for sausage but it will have to wait for another day. I'm so sweet I *could* melt in all this rain. lol
ReplyDeleteHello, the name of this pasta shape is cellentani:)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your blog ... very rich!
good day ...
Ramona
You must have a big closet of all different shapes of pasta at home! My collection I think is only one. Your pasta dish here looks well balanced between meat and noodles. Well done!
ReplyDeleteMmm, this looks like perfect comfort food on a cold day :) Love the corkscrew fussili, they have such a great texture!
ReplyDeletethis look delicious! gloria
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good, Claudia! I love corkscrew pasta; it's so fun! And yeah, I'm known for my love of anything with heavy cream hehe.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really wonderful Claudia. There's just something about pasta when it's cold out that I love.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, looks so good, as all of your dishes do. Plus, I am a 'slave' to sausage. :)
ReplyDeleteBest,
Gloria
MMM, fresh pasta with creamy tomato sauce sounds so delicious right now! This looks so great, I love that corkscrew pasta :)
ReplyDeleteI love corkscrew pasta. This sauce sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love creamy red sauces, and it's good to treat ourselves now and then!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite pasta shapes...and the sauce looks worthy of it.
ReplyDeleteOh that looks so good... I love me some pasta! Yum!
ReplyDeleteDear Claudia, Just beautiful! I can taste it from here. Blessings, Catherine xo
ReplyDeleteThat surely looks very delicious with sausages and cheese!
ReplyDeleteangiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
That surely looks very tasty with sausages and cheese!
ReplyDeleteangiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
Un ottimo e gustoso piatto, brava!!!
ReplyDeleteI could go for a plate of this right now! Looks so, so delicious!
ReplyDelete