Easy 5-Ingredient Budget Pasta Dinner Ready in 25 Minutes

Method

1. Cook the Pasta Until Just Al Dente

   <p>Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the penne for 1 minute less than the package says — it should still have a firm bite in the center. Before draining, scoop out about half a cup of pasta water and set it aside. You may not need it, but it's the fix for any sauce that turns out too thick or broken. Drain the pasta and set aside while you build the sauce.</p>

2. Brown the Sausage in a Cold Pan

   <p>Here's the part most recipes get wrong: start the sausage in a cold, dry skillet, then turn the heat to medium-high. As the pan heats, the fat renders out gradually, which means the sausage browns without steaming. Break it into rough chunks — not fine crumbles. You want some texture. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the pieces are deep brown on at least two sides. Don't rush it. That browning is where most of the flavor in this dish comes from.</p>

3. Add Garlic, Then Don't Walk Away

   <p>Push the sausage to the edges of the pan and add the minced garlic to the center. The residual fat from the sausage is enough to cook it — no extra oil needed. Let it sizzle for exactly 60 seconds, stirring constantly. At 60 seconds, it should smell nutty and fragrant. At 90 seconds, it starts to burn and turn bitter. Pull it off the heat briefly if it's moving too fast.</p>

4. Add the Tomatoes and Simmer

   <p>Pour the crushed tomatoes directly into the pan over the sausage and garlic. Stir everything together, scraping up any brown bits stuck to the bottom — those bits dissolve into the sauce and add depth. Season with a good pinch of salt and black pepper. Bring to a steady simmer over medium heat, then let it cook uncovered for 5 minutes. This is the reduce step: it concentrates the flavor and cooks off the excess water so the sauce clings to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.</p>

5. Combine Pasta and Sauce in the Pan

   <p>Add the drained penne directly into the tomato-sausage sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly. If the sauce looks too thick or the pasta starts to clump, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time until it loosens. The starch in the pasta water also helps the sauce stick. You're going for pasta that's saucy but not soupy — every piece should be coated, not swimming.</p>

6. Melt the Mozzarella and Serve

   <p>Scatter the shredded mozzarella over the top of the pasta in the pan. Cover with a lid for 2 minutes over low heat — the steam melts the cheese without burning the bottom. If you don't have a lid, a sheet of foil works. Once the cheese is melted and starting to pull apart in strings, it's ready. Serve straight from the pan into shallow bowls. A sprinkle of dried oregano or chili flakes on top costs nothing and makes it look like you tried. For more easy budget meals, see our <a href="https://dailyrecipesworld.com/best-freezer-friendly-turkey-chili-8-easy-batch-cook-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freezer Friendly Turkey Chili</a>.</p>