A quick pasta dish that's packed with flavors, this easy Chorizo Pasta is perfect for weeknight dinners! Pressed for time, but not skimping on flavor --- you would surely be asking for seconds!

An overhead shot of a serving of pasta with chorizo, served with a glass of wine.

I'm not sure about you, but I can never get enough of these quick and delicious pasta recipes --- dishes that you can do on autopilot for busy weekdays (and nights). 🙂

The Spanish chorizo provides the base flavor for the sauce, so make sure you use an excellent chorizo brand.

Then you can expect a rich pasta sauce that's full of smokiness and tomatoey goodness.

Absolute yum in every bite of chorizo pasta!

IF YOU WANT MORE EASY PASTA RECIPES, YOU WILL LIKE THESE POSTS!

Ingredients

Pasta - while you can use any pasta shape, the tubular ones are perfect for making this chorizo pasta recipe.

Olive oil - extra virgin olive oil, if possible.

Garlic - minced or grated.

Spanish chorizo - I always use mild, semi-dried Spanish chorizo when preparing this chorizo pasta.

Onion - sliced finely.

Crushed tomatoes - canned crushed tomatoes are excellent for making chorizo pasta.

Salt and pepper - just use your favorite brand for seasoning.

A closer shot of a pan of pasta with chorizo, highlighting the sauce sticking to the cooked pasta.

Preparation

Start making chorizo pasta by boiling salted water in a pot, then cook your preferred pasta as per package instructions.

Place a deep pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Pour olive oil.

Adding olive oil to start making the chorizo sauce for pasta.

Once the oil is ready, add onion and minced garlic.

Adding chopped onion and garlic into the olive oil to start the chorizo sauce for the pasta.

Cook until the onion turns soft.

Add the chopped chorizo.

Chopped Spanish chorizo added to the softened onions and garlic.

Cook for about two minutes or until you see some of the fat coming out of the chorizo.

Add crushed tomatoes.

Crushed tomatoes added to make the sauce for the chorizo pasta.

Mix to combine and season with salt and pepper.

Cover with a lid and adjust the heat to medium-low.

Let simmer for eight to ten minutes (or until the pasta is ready) --- taste and adjust the seasoning while simmering.

Add the cooked pasta.

Adding the cooked pasta into the chorizo sauce as the last step for making this easy chorizo pasta.

Add about four tablespoons of pasta water, then mix to combine --- making sure to coat the pasta with the chorizo sauce evenly.

Transfer into plates.

Grate some cheese on top, if desired.

Your chorizo pasta is now ready for serving!

An overhead shot of a pan of pasta with chorizo, with a block of cheese next to it.

Helpful tips

Since penne pasta takes ten minutes to cook, I always add them to the boiling water once I start simmering the chorizo pasta sauce.

Depending on whether you are completely draining the pasta or just transferring it directly into the sauce with a spider strainer, you might need to add more pasta water to the pan.

If you are using a colander to drain, set aside at least half a cup of pasta water --- don't drain all the salted liquid.

A closer shot of a plate of pasta with chorizo, with a sprinkling of grated cheese.

Recipe variation

Herbs. Feel free to add your favorite herbs to chorizo pasta, dried or fresh herbs will work great.

Chili flakes. If you want a bit of heat and you are using mild chorizo, adding chili flakes will address that.

Passata. Slightly more expensive than crushed tomatoes but will work excellently with this chorizo pasta recipe.

Quick and easy, right? So, try this delicious pasta with chorizo this week and let me know!

IF YOU WANT MORE IDEAS FOR SIMPLE DINNER RECIPES, YOU WILL LIKE THESE POSTS!

Easy Chorizo Pasta

Ingredients

Preparation

Helpful tips

Recipe variation

📖 Recipe