Make this easy canned tomato pasta for one with pantry ingredients. It comes together in just 15 minutes and doesn't taste like you threw it together. Add freshly cooked pasta, a can of tomatoes, Italian seasoning, basil, and Italian sausage.
[This canned tomato pasta recipe was originally posted in November 2018. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
This canned tomato pasta is made with pantry basics (even the sausage thanks to a meat sale that I just stocked up on), it actually just takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish.
I love throwing together this easy pasta recipe for a quick pantry dinner. I always have a can of diced tomatoes, pasta, and seasonings. It's quick, and bursting with flavor, no need to simmer the sauce for hours.
Starting with the onions and sausage infuses the tomato sauce with more flavor, so I recommend using sausage if you have it. You can use TVP (my favorite inexpensive soy based protein), just add lots of Italian seasoning and oil to it after hydrating it.
Double the recipe for dinner & leftovers for lunch tomorrow, you'll use a whole can of diced tomatoes this way.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the canned tomato pasta recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick description of what's in this recipe.
- Pasta: Spaghetti is a nice pasta for this sauce, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Olive oil
- Onion: sauteeing some onion, especially with Italian sausage adds sweetness and flavor to your simple sauce. It's a great addition
- Italian sausage: this canned tomato pasta is great with Italian sausage. The sausage adds some flavor and savoriness to the sauce, but you can use ground beef, pork, meatballs, or TVP (vegetarian). Use what you have or prefer.
- Diced tomatoes: This recipe uses ½ can of diced tomatoes, you can double it to use a full can, or use the leftovers in another recipe. See recipe suggestions above recipe card to use leftover tomatoes.
- Italian seasoning
- Basil
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
Start making your canned tomato pasta by preparing your pasta: cook ½ c pasta according to box directions.
Place saucepan on burner, at medium heat. Slice yellow onion and one sausage. Add olive oil, then sausage and onions to saucepan, once it's been heated. Cook until sausage is browned, about 3-5 minutes.
Once sausage is browned, add diced canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to tomatoes. Cover and cook on medium heat for at least 5 minutes.
Place your canned tomato pasta into a bowl. Top with grated parmesan cheese and thinly sliced fresh basil if desired. Enjoy.
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store leftover canned tomato sauce and pasta, separately in airtight containers. It should last about a week. You can freeze leftover canned tomato pasta sauce and sausage. I'd just recommend freezing it in individual servings.
To reheat, heat pasta and canned tomato sauce, covered in the microwave. Add a dash of water to sauce to help it get creamy again.
Substitutions/Tips
- It's ok if onions aren't soft after cooking a couple minutes, they'll continue to cook with the tomatoes.
- Use your favorite sausage, and freeze leftover sausages if they won't be eaten in 3-5 days.
- Substitute sausage for ground beef or pork or chicken. You may need to add extra seasonings since the sausage is seasoned.
- If you have extra time, lower heat to low and cook sauce for longer. Just stir occasionally for a sweeter, more robust flavored pasta.
- Other great add-ins: minced garlic (add after softening onions), red pepper flakes, you can swap the sausage for ground beef, pork, or TVP (with lots of Italian seasonings and some oil added).
FAQ
Canned tomatoes are so versatile. They're great in pasta sauces, like this canned tomato pasta, also in salsa, and other dishes like Lentil Curry. They're often more flavorful than grocery tomatoes, less expensive, and last longer.
Yes! Regular diced tomatoes are a great pasta sauce base, just add seasonings to them, like in this canned tomato pasta. You can also use San Marzano tomatoes, which are sweeter, and canned tomatoes with parsley and other seasonings.
It depends on the pasta sauce recipe, but you probably won't drain the tomatoes for many. It helps prevent burning, and adds flavor to your sauce. But make sure to read the recipe before draining your tomatoes.
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Sausage: Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Sausage. Simmer in some pasta sauce and place in a hoagie bun or a leftover pita from these chicken salad pitas to make an 'Italian sausage sandwich' or serve with these Roasted Winter Veggies.
- Diced tomatoes: Turkey Pumpkin Chili, Coconut Green Lentil Curry, Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake, or add to this Microwave Egg Bowl.
- Pasta: Easy Pasta with Mushroom Sauce, sub for penne in this Jerk Shrimp Pasta, One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta, or Pasta Carbonara.
Did you make this canned tomato pasta? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Canned Tomato Pasta for One
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- ½ cup dry pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅛ onion chopped
- 1 precooked Italian sausage
- ½ can diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- fresh/dried basil
- grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare pasta by cooking ½ cup pasta according to box directions.
- Place saucepan on burner, at medium heat. Slice ⅛ whole yellow onion and one sausage. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil, then sausage and onions to saucepan, once it's been heated. Cook until sausage is browned, about 3-5 minutes.
- Once sausage is browned, add ½ can of diced tomatoes, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to tomatoes. Cover and cook on medium heat for at least 5 minutes.
- Pour pasta into bowl, then top with sauce and sausage. Top with grated parmesan cheese and thinly sliced basil.
Notes
- It's ok if onions aren't soft yet, but they'll continue to cook with the tomatoes.
- Use your favorite sausage, and freeze leftover sausages if they won't be eaten in 3-5 days.
- If you have extra time, lower heat to low and cook sauce for longer. Just stir occasionally.
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Scarlet | Family Focus Blog says
This looks like a great easy pasta recipe for after a long day at work. Thanks!
Rebecca says
exactly 🙂
Paula Montenegro says
Made in 15 minutes and it has sausage, this is my dream pasta! I have a feeling it will become a regular weekday meal. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca says
yay! thanks
Jeannette says
15 minute meals are everything, but 15 minute pasta dishes are just what I love to see! Thanks for sharing something that comes together so quickly and uses such tasty ingredients!
Rebecca says
right?! they're the best
Jayne says
Love this recipe. Quick easy on the table. Happy family! thanks.
Rebecca says
totally! thanks
Sara Welch says
This is everything a gourmet meal should be, and then some! And I love how quickly it comes together; so delicious!
Rebecca says
thanks! it totally is
Kacey Perez says
Always up for a quick and easy weekday meal! Also nothing better than using up the ingredients laying around the kitchen!
Rebecca says
totally!
Rebecca says
totally agree!