Description
This Creamy Sausage Pasta recipe is a quick and indulgent dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Featuring tender penne pasta tossed in a rich and velvety heavy cream sauce combined with savory cooked sausage, it comes together in just 20 minutes for an easy yet satisfying meal. The addition of reserved pasta water helps create a smooth sauce that clings deliciously to every bite. Customize it by adding garlic or green peppers to elevate the flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 tsp salt (for pasta water)
Sausage & Sauce
- 1 pound sausage (Jimmy Dean regular pork sausage recommended)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- Optional: garlic or chopped green peppers
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Add 2 teaspoons of salt to a large pot of boiling water. Cook 8 ounces of penne pasta according to package directions until al dente, usually around 10 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta.
- Cook the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of sausage, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook thoroughly until browned and no longer pink inside, about 7-10 minutes. Optionally, add minced garlic or chopped green peppers to the sausage as it cooks for additional flavor.
- Prepare the Sauce: Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate to keep warm. Deglaze the hot pan by adding the reserved 1/2 cup of pasta water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened and creamy.
- Combine and Serve: Add the drained pasta to the cream sauce and stir well to coat all the noodles. Return the sausage to the pan and mix thoroughly. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy your creamy sausage pasta.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce bind and achieve the perfect creamy texture.
- Feel free to add vegetables such as spinach or mushrooms to increase the nutritional value.
- Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your preferred flavor profile.
- Heavy cream can be substituted with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, although it will be less rich.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead of penne.
