Name: Weeknight Pasta With Stuffing Crumbs
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
Yield: 4–6 servings
Ingredients: 1 (6-oz.) package dried stuffing mix (about 2½ cups); 9 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided; 1 lb. rigatoni, lumache (snail shells), or other medium tubular pasta; 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more; 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed if needed; 6 garlic cloves, finely grated; ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes; 2 bunches Tuscan kale (about 1½ lb.), ribs and stems removed, leaves torn into 2" pieces; 4 oz. Parmesan, finely grated (about 2 cups), plus more for serving; 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice; 1 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more

Lumache pasta with stuffing crumbs kale sausage and Parmesan in a bowl.

Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mira Evnine

Having a fuss-free back-pocket pasta is invaluable, especially when fall’s busy schedule intersects with the start of the holidays. This weeknight dinner, which comes together in less than an hour with minimal prep work, is just that. Made with hearty Italian sausage, wilted kale, and a generous amount of salty Parmesan, it’s the perfect crowd-pleasing meal.

The crispy-crunchy breadcrumbs that adorn each bowl of pasta are the true stars of the show here. Instead of panko, torn bread, or any other go-to medium used for making breadcrumbs, this recipe calls for boxed stuffing mix to take advantage of its built-in flavor. This is because most dried stuffing mixes contain a multitude of seasonings, including dried sage, dehydrated onions, and black pepper, so they easily transform into an intensely flavorful topping. Crush the stuffing mix in a food processor and fry the crumbs in butter and that’s it: You have an instant pasta upgrade that’s bursting with flavor. Think of this pasta as a simple canvas to highlight the breadcrumbs, and feel free to go rogue and use the crumbs anywhere that needs a little crunch.