Description
Hearty “creamy sausage pasta” brings Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with rich, savory flavors. Spicy Italian sausage mingles with silky sauce, promising a satisfying meal that welcomes you to savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
Proteins and Aromatics:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Liquids and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley
- Optional garnish: extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to package guidelines, ensuring a perfect al dente texture. Carefully set aside a portion of the starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Place a spacious skillet over medium-high heat and introduce olive oil. Crumble the sausage into the pan, allowing it to caramelize and develop rich, deep flavors while breaking it into smaller pieces.
- Incorporate finely diced onions into the sausage, sautéing until they become translucent and slightly softened. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring quickly to prevent burning and release their aromatic essence.
- Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow the liquid to reduce and concentrate its flavors.
- Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and introduce heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk methodically until the sauce transforms into a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Gently fold the cooked pasta into the creamy sauce, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated. If the sauce appears too thick, gradually introduce the reserved pasta water to achieve the perfect silky texture.
- Season the dish with a judicious blend of salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Give the mixture a final gentle stir, allowing the flavors to meld and warm through completely.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately, garnishing with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of indulgence.
Notes
- Swap spicy sausage with mild versions for sensitive palates or use plant-based alternatives to accommodate vegetarian diets.
- Reserve pasta water carefully as the starchy liquid helps create a silky, smooth sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
- Control cooking heat to prevent cream from separating or burning, maintaining a gentle simmer for the most luxurious texture.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like pecorino or aged cheddar to customize the dish’s flavor profile and richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 615
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg