Description
This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is the perfect comforting meal for any occasion. With hearty Italian sausage, creamy tomato sauce, and melty cheese, this dish is packed with flavor and sure to become a family favorite. It’s easy to make, rich, and satisfying—perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces penne or fusilli pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up into crumbles, until browned and no longer pink. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Onion and Garlic: In the same skillet, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring and cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Deglaze the Pan: Add the chicken broth to the skillet, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Let the broth simmer for 3-5 minutes, reducing slightly.
- Make the Sauce: Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their liquid), oregano, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add the Cream: Stir in the half and half (or heavy cream), and let the sauce simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Add reserved pasta water if necessary to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Combine: Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet, and stir in the cooked pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated with the sauce.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy with garlic bread or a side salad.
Notes
- For a spicier version, use hot Italian sausage or add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Feel free to use any pasta you prefer; rigatoni or rigatoni would work well too.
- For a thicker sauce, simmer the sauce a bit longer or add a little more cream.
- To lighten up the dish, you can use turkey sausage instead of pork sausage.
- Leftovers are delicious and can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe (approximately 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 60mg