Description
Indulge in this quick and easy creamy Italian sausage pasta recipe, featuring savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and a rich, velvety tomato cream sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that feels gourmet!
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot, casings removed)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 lb pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage (casings removed) and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease, leaving a small amount in the pan.
Step 2: Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and dried Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Step 4: While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta according to package directions in a separate large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Step 5: Stir the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the sausage and tomato sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly and is heated through. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and black pepper as needed.
Step 6: Add the cooked, drained pasta to the creamy sauce. Toss to coat thoroughly. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For best results, use good quality Italian sausage and fresh Parmesan cheese. Don't overcook the pasta! Al dente is key for texture. If you don't have chicken broth, vegetable broth or even a little reserved pasta water can work in a pinch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta & Noodles
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg