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This is one of my easiest, go-to family dinners! It is seriously so easy. And it’s a winner if your family loves macaroni and cheese! If you shop sales or use coupons, you can get both pasta and kielbasa for very cheap — which means this Cheesy Kielbasa Skillet meal is just about as frugal as it gets!
Have I mentioned how versatile this skillet meal is? You can change up the meat, the type of pasta, the seasonings and the cheese! You can mix your favorite cooked veggies straight into the pasta, or you can serve them on the side like I did (because I have a picky family!).
I served steamed peas and buttered toasted garlic buns (using buns I got off of the discount cart at the back of Walmart!) alongside this Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet, but there are so many sides that would pair well with this main dish!
This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.
Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet Menu:
- Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet
- Steamed Peas
- Buttered Toasted Garlic Buns
Ingredients for Cheesy Kielbasa Skillet and Sides:
- 1 14-oz package kielbasa (Publix – sales + coupons) — $1.30
- 1 16-oz box pasta (Aldi) — $1.89
- 4 cups chicken broth (I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water) (Aldi – $1.79 for 25 cubes) — $0.29
- 1 cup milk (Aldi – $3.08 per gallon) — $0.19
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (Aldi) — $2.47
- 4-6 day-old buns, split in half (Walmart – $0.99 for a big bag) — $0.30
- 1 stick butter, softened (Aldi – $2.99 for 1lb) — $0.75
- Garlic powder, salt, and parsley or Italian seasoning
- 2 bags peas (Aldi) — $1.94
Total for Dinner: $9.13 (makes 6 servings)
How to Make Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice the kielbasa into bite-size pieces. Saute in a pan lightly sprayed with cooking oil until starting to brown.
2. Add 4 cups of chicken broth, 1 cup milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 16oz of uncooked pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is done (I partially cover the skillet with a vented lid while it’s cooking).
3. While the pasta is cooking, split the buns in half and put on a cookie sheet. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and parsley flakes. Bake at 450 degrees until lightly browned.
4. Cook the peas using your favorite method (I used the microwave, haha!).
5. When the pasta is done, stir in the 3 cups of shredded cheese.
6. Continue to stir until the cheese is melted.
7. Serve the Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet with the toasted buns and the steamed peas!
Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 package kielbasa (14-oz) Publix – sales + coupons — $1.30
- 1 box pasta (16-ounce) Aldi — $1.89
- 4 cups chicken broth I used 4 chicken bouillon cubes and 4 cups water (Aldi – $1.79 for 25 cubes) — $0.29
- 1 cup milk Aldi – $3.08 per gallon — $0.19
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese Aldi — $2.47
- 4-6 day-old buns split in half (Walmart – $0.99 for a big bag) — $0.30
- 1 stick butter softened (Aldi – $2.99 for 1lb) — $0.75
- Garlic powder, salt, and parsley or Italian seasoning
- 2 bags peas Aldi — $1.94
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice the kielbasa into bite-size pieces. Saute in a pan lightly sprayed with cooking oil until starting to brown.
- Add 4 cups of chicken broth, 1 cup milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 16oz of uncooked pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is done (I partially cover the skillet with a vented lid while it’s cooking).
- While the pasta is cooking, split the buns in half and put on a cookie sheet. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and parsley flakes. Bake at 450 degrees until lightly browned.
- Cook the peas using your favorite method (I used the microwave, haha!).
- When the pasta is done, stir in the 3 cups of shredded cheese.
- Continue to stir until the cheese is melted.
- Serve the Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet with the toasted buns and the steamed peas!
Notes
Nutrition
More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:
- Chicken Alfredo Pizza
- Chicken Burgers and Baked Fries
- Spaghetti Pizza
- Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
- Homemade Chipotle Chicken Bowls
- Crustless Spinach Quiche and Whole Wheat Bread
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie
- Baked Chicken Chimichangas and Cilantro Rice
- Baked Potato Bar
- Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Chicken Alfredo and Roasted Carrots
And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!
If you make this Cheesy Pasta and Kielbasa Skillet, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out!
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