Crockpot Italian Sausage Pasta (Easy Fall Weeknight Dinner)

August 29, 2025

This Crockpot Italian Sausage Pasta is the ultimate cozy weeknight dinner! Juicy sausage, peppers, onions, and marinara simmer together in the slow cooker, then get tossed with pasta for an easy, family-friendly meal. Perfect for busy moms and fall comfort food nights!

There’s nothing better than a big bowl of cozy pasta on a fall night—and this Crockpot Italian Sausage Pasta might be the easiest way to get dinner on the table without stressing about it. This recipe is part of my What We Had for Dinner series where I share the exact meals my family eats during the week. It didn’t make it into my cookbook, but if you love this style of meal (fast, comforting, and family-friendly), you’ll find tons more inspiration in the book!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Minimal prep, maximum flavor – just layer everything in the crockpot and walk away.
Family-friendly – kids and adults will both love it.
Perfect for busy weeknights – you only need about 10 minutes of prep time.
Cozy and hearty – the kind of meal that makes your whole house smell amazing.
Easy to customize – swap the pasta, change up the sausage, or add extra veggies.

My Protein Hack

Lately, I’ve been focused on hitting my protein goals, but I never want to feel restricted when I’m eating pasta. Here’s the simple swap I’ve been doing: instead of loading up on a giant bowl of noodles, I serve my pasta over a bed of spinach with a smaller scoop of noodles and a dollop of cottage cheese.

The spinach wilts under the warm pasta, adding extra nutrients without any extra effort, and the cottage cheese blends right into the sauce for a creamy, cheesy bite while adding an extra boost of protein. It’s such a simple shift, but it makes me feel full, energized, and still totally satisfied. My kids eat theirs with plenty of pasta and Parmesan cheese on top, Jeff piles his plate high, and I get to enjoy mine in a way that aligns with my goals. That’s what I love about this recipe—it’s adaptable for everyone at the table.

How to Make Crockpot Italian Sausage Pasta

This recipe couldn’t be easier. I start with 5–6 Italian sausages (you can use mild or spicy, depending on your preference). Then I slice up three colorful bell peppers—red, orange, and yellow—plus an onion. All of that goes straight into the crockpot with a jar of my favorite marinara sauce (I love Mezzetta marinara, it’s got that homemade flavor).

I sprinkle in some fresh basil and garlic, pop the lid on, and let the crockpot do its thing. The sausage slowly cooks in the sauce, flavoring the peppers and onions until everything is tender and rich. After about 4 hours on high (or 6–7 hours on low), the kitchen smells incredible.

Near the end of the cooking time, I boil some pasta—penne or rigatoni work best—and stir it into the crockpot along with the chopped sausage. Let it sit for 20–30 minutes so the pasta absorbs all that saucy goodness, and then dinner is ready.

Customization Ideas

One of the reasons I love crockpot pasta recipes is how customizable they are:

Use chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
Add mushrooms or zucchini for extra veggies.
Try whole wheat, chickpea, or gluten-free pasta depending on your needs.
Swap the sauce – if you prefer a spicy arrabbiata or a creamy tomato basil, go for it.
Make it cheesy – stir in mozzarella or sprinkle Parmesan over the top.

How We Served It

For my family, I tossed the pasta right in the crockpot and served it with garlic bread on the side. For myself, I made a bowl with:

A bed of fresh spinach
A smaller scoop of pasta and sausage
A big spoonful of cottage cheese stirred in

It was so filling, so flavorful, and such a good reminder that hitting my protein goal doesn’t mean skipping comfort foods—it just means making little swaps that work for me.

Final Thoughts

This Crockpot Italian Sausage Pasta is the perfect mix of comfort and convenience. It’s hearty, flavorful, and the kind of recipe that brings everyone to the table. Whether you’re piling your plate with pasta, serving it over spinach with cottage cheese like me, or keeping it simple with a sprinkle of Parmesan, this recipe adapts to your lifestyle.

And while it’s not in my cookbook, it’s a perfect example of the meals we eat in real life—simple, balanced, and designed to keep busy families fed and happy. So grab your slow cooker, throw everything in, and let this cozy fall dinner cook itself while you get on with your day.