Dairy-Free Sausage Pasta [One Pot, Gluten-Free]

If you’re anything like me, you need dinners that work with your schedule, not against it. That’s why I love one-pot meals like this gluten-free sausage pasta recipe or dairy-free slow cooker recipes.

It’s rich and cozy without needing a ton of prep or cleanup, a lot like my go-to sausage and peppers over rice or one-pot dairy-free chicken alfredo. The creamy gluten-free dairy-free pasta sauce comes together quickly and coats every bite without the need for heavy cream or cheese, which means everyone at the table gets the comfort they want… without the dairy bloat.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Italian sausages: Any flavor of Italian sausage you choose will work for the one pot pasta. However, if passing this along to kids, I tend to opt for mild sausages from the butcher (and make sure they're gluten-free if needed!).
• Chicken broth: Water can be used, but chicken broth makes the gluten-free sausage pasta recipe taste so much more comforting. When I don’t have homemade chicken broth on hand, I use Perfect Supplements Bone Broth Powder. It’s quick to whip up and a great immune system boost!
• Coconut Milk: This is one of the ingredients that helps make this sausage pasta so creamy while still remaining dairy-free. Make sure to use the coconut milk from a can (the harder white part, not the water).
• Gluten-Free Noodles: You can use a variety of noodles, but the best ones I’ve used are quinoa noodles. I find that many of the chickpea noodles break down while boiling and turn the pasta into mush. Quinoa ones hold up well in a sauce, just like this ground turkey pasta.

Flavor Variations

Spicy: If you like a spicier pasta, up the amount of red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper. I find the spicy version pairs best with something like Caprese salad in the summer because it's such a tasty contrast. We also like to use up our jalapenos from the garden in this pasta, so long as the kids don't see!

Cheesy: In place of parmesan cheese, this dairy-free pasta goes for nutritional yeast. Another option would be to sprinkle in some homemade, dairy-free parmesan cheese.

Pesto-packed: You could also swirl in pesto sauce without pine nuts or cheese for a new taste.

How to Make Dairy-Free Sausage Pasta

Step 1: Cook the onions, garlic, and mushrooms until clear. Add Italian sausage.

Step 2: Add in the sauce ingredients & boil before adding the gluten-free noodles.

Step 3: Mix in the nutritional yeast.

Step 4: Top the one-pot pasta with chopped, fresh spinach.

The kind of noodles you choose will affect the texture of the dairy-free tomato sausage pasta. For best results, opt for quinoa noodles (this is also a great way to make this Italian pasta and broccoli a gluten-free dish).

The more you let the pasta cook, the creamier/thicker the dish will be.

This recipe can easily be made ahead of time and reheated. If going this route, you’ll want to make sure not to cook the noodles all the way through, and you'll want an extra splash of broth to keep it creamy when you reheat it.

A quick reminder that if you need gluten-free dinners for allergy purposes, make sure to purchase gluten-free Italian sausages. A lot of chain sausages contain gluten as filler. And if you have extra sausages, check out these ground sausage recipes.

How To Store It

Store leftover sausage pasta in the fridge in an airtight container once cooled. It will thicken up in the fridge, so when you’re reheating it, add ½-1 cup of broth and bring it back to a boil.

Know that the pasta dish as a whole does not freeze well as the noodles become to soft on thawing. However, the sausage and sauce freeze and thaw well and can be stored for up to 8 weeks. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge, bring it to a boil, and add the noodles when you need it.