Cabbage Sausage Pasta - Barefeet in the Kitchen

Half a box of pasta, a pound of sausage, and some green cabbage that was tucked in the fridge added up to a winning last-minute meal. This sausage pasta was such a hit with my family that it’s become a regular player in our dinner rotation over the past few years.

Cabbage + Sausage + Pasta = Happiness

My family enjoyed this dinner so much the first time I made it, there may have even been an argument over who was going to eat the leftovers. I love it when a dinner created from whatever happens to be on hand turns out to be this delicious.

This dish is proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients to deliver a memorable meal.

Sausage Pasta

The awesomeness that is pasta with sausage can’t be overstated. Sausage adds incredible flavor to pasta recipes, and I find myself using it regularly. There are endless ways to use everyday breakfast sausage for easy dinners with minimal effort, and the abundance of sausage recipes here are a testament to that.

As I learned with my cousin’s Pizza Soup recipe many years ago, a little bit of sausage goes a long way toward flavoring a dish. You don’t need to buy a fancy sausage either! I keep several packages of basic breakfast sausage (mild and spicy varieties) on hand in the freezer for quick and easy meals.

And if you’re someone who thinks sausage might make a dish heavier than you like, I’m here to tell you that cabbage works real magic when paired with sausage. It not only brightens the flavors, but it adds freshness that balances the richness of the sausage.

Cabbage and Pasta

It’s hard to believe that I once wasn’t a fan of cabbage. And I enjoy it so much now. Cabbage has a place of its own in my crisper drawer. It’s always on hand and makes a terrific side dish on its own or when added to other dishes.

Cabbage with pasta is probably the most common pairing in my kitchen (see cabbage spaghetti for another tasty cabbage pasta!), but cabbage with mashed potatoes (a.k.a. Colcannon), or cabbage with creamy white beans, or a corned beef and cabbage hash for breakfast or dinner? I’ll happily eat it all.

Sausage Pasta Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

pasta
sausage
butter
onion and garlic
cabbage
crushed red pepper and kosher salt
Parmesan cheese
fresh lemon juice
fresh basil

This recipe also works well with kielbasa sausage. And if you’re working with what happens to be on hand and you don’t happen to have any fresh basil, feel free to skip it or use parsley in its place. No lemons in the house? Just add a tiny splash of red or white wine vinegar.

Cabbage Pasta

Cabbage adds a terrific freshness to pasta dishes while keeping them a bit lighter overall. (As you know, I’ll add vegetables to almost any dish, and in this case, the cabbage truly improves every bite!)

I first tried cabbage in a pasta dish when making these stir fry noodles with chicken and vegetables. And boy, was that good. I think I made that stir-fry at least once a month for a year.

And this egg roll in a bowl ramen is an irresistible skillet of deconstructed egg rolls tossed with ramen noodles, and it’s another great example of how spectacular cabbage and pasta can be when combined.

Classic cabbage and noodles (a.k.a. Haluski) flavored with little more than butter and a bit of pepper is going to impress you with its simplicity. This old-fashioned dish has become a regular comfort food in our household.

overhead shot of pasta dish with sausage

Pasta with Sausage

We probably use sausage in our pasta recipes more than any other meat and these are some of our favorite sausage pasta recipes. This Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake with pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and onions has all of our favorite supreme pizza flavors in an awesome bowl of pasta.

Creamy, spicy, pasta with bell peppers and sausage is a 20-minute meal that everyone loves. My family will happily eat this Cajun Sausage Pasta any night of the week.

Savory sausage, creamy ricotta and mozzarella, and your favorite spaghetti sauce are baked with bowtie pasta in this Lazy Lasagna recipe twist on traditional lasagna.

Tender tortellini pasta filled with cheese or spinach is simmered along with Italian sausage in a rich and flavorful sauce to make this recipe for Sausage, Tortellini, and Spinach in a Creamy Tomato Sauce.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta, reserving about 2 cups of the pasta cooking liquid.
While the pasta is boiling, warm a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring occasionally to break up into bite-size pieces. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate; leaving the drippings in the skillet.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the drippings. Add the onion and cook, scraping up browned bits in the skillet, until the onion is tender, about 3 minutes.
Add the cabbage, garlic, red pepper, and salt. Toss to coat in the drippings and add about a ¼ cup of pasta water to the skillet. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for about 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, scraping the pan as needed.
When the cabbage is tender, add the cooked pasta and sausage to the skillet, along with 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until the liquid thickens to lightly coat the pasta, about 3 minutes.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, cheese, and lemon juice; cook, stirring constantly, until saucy, 1 to 2 minutes, adding a splash or two more of the reserved cooking liquid, as needed, to achieve the desired sauce consistency. Taste the pasta and add more salt, only if needed.
Sprinkle with basil and toss to combine right before serving. Serve with additional red pepper and Parmesan, if desired.

* Don’t panic if you forget to reserve the pasta cooking water, you can also use chicken broth for this, if needed. Pasta water is my preference though, as the starches in the water will help to thicken the pasta sauce in the end.

{originally published 5/20/24 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/22/25}