Description
Enjoy a comforting bowl of creamy sausage pasta featuring Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, and a rich cream sauce. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for weeknight dinners and is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces of pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 pound of Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of chicken broth
- 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- Once cooked, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander. Set aside.
- In a large skillet or frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Remove the casing from the Italian sausage and crumble the sausage into the skillet.
- Cook the sausage for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Use a wooden spoon to break it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Once the sausage is cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
- In the same skillet with the sausage fat, add the chopped onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until it becomes translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and diced red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes until the bell pepper softens and the garlic is fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to deglaze and incorporate any browned bits from the sausage and vegetables.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, mixing well to combine.
- Add the grated Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Add the cooked pasta and the browned sausage back into the skillet with the creamy sauce.
- Toss everything together gently until the pasta is well coated with the sauce and the sausage is evenly distributed.
- If the pasta seems dry, add more reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until you achieve the desired creaminess.
- Once everything is well combined and heated through, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve the creamy sausage pasta immediately, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Enjoy your delicious creamy sausage pasta with a side of garlic bread or a fresh salad for a complete meal!
Notes
- For added flavor, consider using a mix of sausage types, such as sweet and spicy Italian sausage.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra nutrition and flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream or use a plant-based cream alternative.
- Make sure to taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, especially if using pre-seasoned sausage.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated; just add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce when reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes