Pork & Fennel Sausage Pasta (under $6 a serve!)

Not all dinners need to be fancy, especially during the week. They just need to be quick, affordable, and one you know the whole family will love. This pasta ticks all the boxes, with the fennel from the sausages giving the sauce that rich, full flavour without extra effort. Even better? It’s on the table in under 30 minutes and costs less than $6 a serve.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 6 thin pork & fennel sausages (or use your favourite sausages!)

• 4 cups uncooked penne pasta

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 handful cherry tomatoes, halved

• 2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes

• 1 handful fresh basil leaves

• Salt & pepper, to taste

• Parmesan cheese, to serve

  
  

Method

1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.

2. While pasta cooks, remove the sausage casings and roll the meat into small meatballs. Pan-fry until golden and cooked through, then set aside.

3. In the same pan, add olive oil and garlic. Cook gently until fragrant, then add cherry tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Let them soften and release their juices.

4. Add canned tomatoes and simmer for 5–7 minutes to let the flavours develop.

5. Stir the sausage meatballs back in. If the sauce is too thick, splash in some pasta water.

6. Toss through the pasta, finish with fresh basil and plenty of grated parmesan.

   
   

A comforting weeknight dinner that’s budget-friendly and perfect for leftovers the next day too!