Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
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Rich, savory, and extra cheesy, Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is the comforting and delicious dish you’ve been waiting for! Perfect for any occasion, this recipe promises to be a crowd-pleaser with its blend of Italian flavors and creamy indulgence!
Savor Every Bite: Decadent Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Awaits!
Allow me to introduce creamy Italian sausage pasta! A delectable Italian-inspired dish that combines the bold flavors of Italian sausage with the comforting creaminess of a Parmesan cheese sauce, and tender pasta. The result is the perfect combination of savory and creamy elements, creating a dish that’s both satisfying and bursting with flavor.
What’s even better? This impressive recipe is hassle-free! You’ll need only about 30 minutes and less than 10 ingredients to whip up this tasty pasta dish. So, whether you’re searching for a meal the whole family will love or an effortless option for a dinner party with friends, this creamy Italian sausage pasta recipe is calling your name!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
- Quick and Easy! Don’t let its gourmet appeal fool you, this recipe is really simple to prepare. With a short list of ingredients and a few steps, it takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Creamy Sausage Deliciousness! Together the bold, slightly spicy notes of the Italian sausage blend beautifully with the rich, velvety creaminess of the Parmesan sauce creating layers of flavor.
- Versatile Dish! Creamy Italian sausage pasta is a comforting and satisfying dish that is a reliable go-to recipe for any occasion from weeknight family dinners to holiday gatherings.
- Italian Sausage – Feel free to use mild or spicy Italian pork sausage.
- Pasta – I like to use penne pasta or rotini pasta for this recipe, but any bite-size pasta is a good choice.
- Olive Oil – I always use extra virgin olive oil for the added flavor, but vegetable oil will also work.
- Onion – Brown onion adds the most flavor. Yet, any type of onion you have on hand will do the trick!
- Garlic – Use freshly minced garlic to achieve the most delicious pungent flavor.
- Red Pepper Flakes – This optional ingredient adds a lovely touch of heat.
- Heavy Cream – Gives the dish a rich and creamy texture. Milk will not produce the same consistency.
- Parmesan Cheese – Makes the pasta cheesy and gives it a delicious savory flavor.
- Seasonings – Salt and black pepper season the overall dish.
- Fresh Basil – Used to garnish the dish and add a pop of color and freshness.
This creamy sausage pasta recipe embodies the essence of simplicity without compromising on flavor. Just follow my easy steps and you’ll have a yummy dinner on the table in no time!
To begin, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the directions on the package until al dente. Next, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta in a colander. Now, set the pasta aside.
As the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Then add the Italian sausage and fully cook it, while breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
Next, add the onion garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes and continue cooking over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until it’s soft and translucent.
To make the sauce, first you need to make sure you turn the heat down to medium. Then stir in the heavy cream and let it warm up. Next, stir in the Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
At this point, if the sauce is too thick, just add some of the reserved pasta water. Then give the sauce a taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
Once you’ve made the sauce, add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss it together with the creamy sausage sauce. Then let the dish simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes to warm the noodles up.
When ready, serve your creamy Italian sausage pasta immediately topped with some fresh basil or parsley and a side of garlic knots if you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I add to the dish?
You can enhance it with ingredients like sautéed mushrooms, baby spinach, asparagus, broccoli, or sun-dried tomatoes. Also, don’t hesitate to experiment with different cheese varieties or toss in a bit of bacon.
What can I use if I don’t have cream for creamy pasta?
You can use whole milk or half-and-half as a substitute. But you might need to mix a small amount of butter and flour into a roux and then add it to the milk while stirring to thicken up the sauce. You can also use Greek yogurt or cream cheese for a tangy and creamy effect.
Why doesn’t my pasta stay creamy?
If the heat is too high when you mix the sauce with the pasta, it might cause the sauce to thicken excessively or even break. You need to adjust the heat and add reserved pasta water to achieve your desired creaminess.
Expert Tips
- Choose high-quality sausage. Whether you prefer mild or hot sausage the quality of the sausage will significantly impact the flavor of the dish.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. To achieve that perfect al dente texture, precisely follow the package instructions. Overcooking can result in mushy noodles, which will affect the overall dish.
- Reserve some pasta water. Before draining the pasta, remember to save about a cup of the pasta cooking water. You can use the starchy liquid to adjust the sauce’s thickness and help it adhere to the pasta better.
- Constantly stir the cheese. When adding the Parmesan cheese to the sauce, you must stir constantly to prevent clumps from forming and create a smooth consistency.
Storage
To store your creamy Italian sausage pasta, place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When ready to enjoy, you can reheat it either on the stovetop with a bit of cream or milk or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring as needed.
Discover More Pasta Recipes
Spaghetti Bolognese
One Pot Sausage Pasta
One Pot Beef Stroganoff
Cajun Chicken Pasta
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Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 pound pasta (such as penne or rotini)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup fresh basil (chopped for garnish)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the pasta aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is browned and cooked through.
- Next, add the diced onion, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Lower the heat to medium and stir in the heavy cream. Allow the cream to heat up and then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted into the cream, creating a smooth sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce. Add in some reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until everything is heated through.
- Serve the pasta hot, garnished with the chopped fresh basil or parsley.
Equipment
Notes
- Pasta Water: Don’t forget to reserve a cup of pasta water before draining. It can be used to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Sausage Options: Both mild and hot Italian sausage work well in this recipe. Choose according to your heat preference.
- Cream Substitute: If heavy cream is not available, you can use half-and-half or a mixture of milk and butter as a substitute.
- Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan offers the best flavor, but pre-grated Parmesan can be used in a pinch.
- Fresh Herbs: While basil is recommended for garnish, parsley also pairs well with the flavors of this dish.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Made it with a few tweaks for our palates-
Added both sweet and spicy sausage, sautéed Serrano and habanero peppers with the onions and garlic and I also added sautéed mushrooms
Very nice and quick meal.
Love your twist on the recipe! Adding both types of sausage and extra peppers sounds like a flavorful kick. Happy cooking! 🌶️🍝👍
Yummy! Will make this again.
That’s what I love to hear! So glad you enjoyed it. This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is definitely on my repeat list too. Thanks for taking the time to let me know, and happy cooking! 🍝😋
Very good. But 1 lb of pasta (I used small rigatoni, maybe that was the problem) was way too much. Next time I’ll cut it down to 3/4 lb. Easy to make and will save this one. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your feedback! It’s possible that the type of pasta can make a difference in the final result. Adjusting the pasta amount sounds like a good plan for next time.
Really great weeknight meal, especially Fall/Winter…reheats so well and a simple crowd pleaser!
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed it! It’s always great to have a reliable weeknight meal!
OMG! What a delicious comfort food, warms the soul. My family really enjoyed it too the point there wasn’t any seconds left! 🤤
It’s a Definite repeater!!!
Thanks Jo. 👌🏽
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad the creamy Italian sausage pasta was a hit with your family. No better feeling than having no leftovers because everyone enjoyed it so much!
I just made this recipe, it was great on its own but I added roasted red peppers, mushrooms and spinach and it turned out just the way I wanted. Will make again!
Roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and spinach sound like wonderful complements to the creamy Italian sausage pasta. It’s always fantastic when a recipe can be adapted to individual tastes. I’m glad it turned out just the way you wanted, and I hope it’s just as delicious next time you make it!
This is a good recipe….as is it amended. I have used different cheeses, added veggies, changed meat…all good. You new cooks-keep this recipe! Thanks.
I will make this tonight! It has everything we love in it AND I have all the ingredients in the house already. I am using hot Italian sausage so I won’t add the optional red pepper this time.
It sounds like you’re all set for a delicious meal tonight! Using hot Italian sausage will surely give the dish a nice kick of flavor, and it’s wise to balance the heat by skipping the optional red pepper this time around. It’s always a win when you have all the ingredients on hand and don’t need to make an extra trip to the store. I hope you and your loved ones enjoy every bite of it.
Made this for football watching….gone!
I used milk (not heavy cream ) and low fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel) to cut fat….sausage good enough even drained. I usually add the cream cheese as needed, when it gets thick enough, eyeball. Usually about ⅓ cup.
And used sweet Italian sausage.
5 stars. Easy and doubling no problem.
It’s great to know that the dish still turned out delicious even with the lower-fat alternatives and the sweet Italian sausage. Your modifications sound like they worked out wonderfully, and it’s always great when a recipe can be easily adapted to suit individual tastes and dietary preferences. I’m glad to know doubling the recipe was no hassle. Thank you for sharing your tweaks and for giving the recipe 5 stars!