Let’s cook this easy one-pot pasta:

1. Sauté Sausage and Onion:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan, deep skillet, or Dutch oven over medium heat.
• Add the sliced smoked sausage and chopped onion. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is nicely browned and the onion has softened, about 5-7 minutes.

2. Add Garlic:

• Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 more minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

3. Add Liquids and Seasoning:

• Pour in the chicken broth and the can of diced tomatoes (undrained). Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Stir in the heavy cream and the black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

4. Add Pasta and Simmer:

• Stir the dry bow tie pasta into the simmering liquid. Make sure the pasta is as submerged as possible.
• Cover the pan tightly with a lid, reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer (medium-low or low), and cook for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, especially as the liquid reduces and the pasta cooks. Cook until the pasta is tender (al dente or slightly more cooked, depending on preference). Whole wheat pasta might take the full 20 minutes or slightly longer. Add a splash more broth if the mixture becomes too dry before the pasta is cooked.

5. Add Cheese:

• Once the pasta is cooked through, remove the pan from the heat (or keep on very low).
• Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until it’s melted and the sauce is creamy.
• Taste and add salt if needed (sausage, broth, and cheese are already salty).

6. Serve:

• Serve the One Pot Smoked Sausage Pasta hot. Top individual servings with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

A complete, comforting meal from just one pot!