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This is it: my number one pasta recipe. Creamy Pasta with Sausage is an easy, flavor-packed pasta dinner recipe using Italian pork sausage, Parmesan cheese, and an amazing pink sauce you will surely find yourself wanting to make again. Best of all, you can make this dish in less than 20 minutes with enough servings to feed 6!
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Creamy Sausage Pasta
Although these days I like to make note of all of my recipes digitally (as you can see!), creamy sausage pasta is still a recipe I have written down by hand, kept in my family's household recipe book.
I make this dish every year for the holidays, often using leftover ham. It's creamy, cheesy, and the flavor is honestly irresistible. Any time I share it, someone asks for the recipe, and I'm happy to say it's so easy!
To make this creamy pasta with sausage, all you need is 9 ingredients - including salt and pepper! - and less than 20 minutes. You can cook the sauce while the pasta boils, and have it ready to serve in no time. Enjoy it as a main dish next to some roasted veggies. Everyone at the table will love it!
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta of choice
- Butter
- Minced garlic or garlic paste
- Italian sausage, mild or spicy; or, use diced ham
- Tomato sauce
- Half & half
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Parsley (optional, for garnish)
How to Make Pasta with Sausage
- Bring a pot of water to boil and begin cooking pasta according to package directions.
- While the pasta cooks, add butter to a skillet and allow it to melt over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
- Mix in the Italian sausage and turn the heat up to medium-high. Break the sausage into tiny pieces with a wooden spoon and cook until browned all over.
- Once browned, add tomato sauce and stir until well-blended.
- Slowly and gradually add half & half while stirring. Once mixed through, simmer for 5 minutes until well-blended.
- Drain pasta and add it to the sauce. Mix through to combine.
- Add Parmesan cheese and mix well. Stir until fully incorporated, then top with parsley. Enjoy!
Pork Pasta Recipes
Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe Tips
- I recommend salting the pasta water and cooking to al dente (just slightly underdone).
- You can use any variety of pasta you like, but I recommend using a type that holds sauce well, like macaroni noodles or a shell pasta such as orecchiette (my favorite).
- Diced ham can be used in place of sausage, but should also be browned in the skillet for best flavor before adding other sauce ingredients. Leftover ham is incredible for this.
- Make sure to slowly add the half & half while stirring or you may curdle the cream.
Pasta Recipe with Sausage FAQ
Heavy cream, half & half, or milk can be used for creamy pasta recipes such as this creamy pasta with sausage. A higher fat content in heavy cream and half & half means they will produce creamier, thicker sauces than pasta sauces made with milk; if using milk, you may want to first make a roux using milk and flour.
For a thicker, creamier sauce with a tomato base such as this creamy sausage pasta, tube-shaped or shell pastas work best for holding the sauce. Use pasta varieties such as penne, ziti, macaroni, or orecchiette.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Try more of my best pork recipes, and leave a comment and rating below! We love to hear from you.
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Creamy Pasta with Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 oz. pasta your choice, ex. elbow macaroni or orecchiette
- 4 Tablespoons butter equal to ½ stick
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced, or garlic paste
- 1 pound Italian sausage mild or spicy; or 2 cups diced ham
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup half & half
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley for garnish (optional)
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and begin cooking pasta according to package directions.16 oz. pasta
- While the pasta cooks, add butter to a skillet and allow it to melt over medium heat.4 Tablespoons butter
- Add garlic and cook until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic!2 teaspoons garlic
- Mix in the Italian sausage and turn the heat up to medium-high. Break the sausage into tiny pieces with a wooden spoon and cook until browned all over.1 pound Italian sausage
- Once browned, add tomato sauce and stir until well-blended.2 cups tomato sauce
- Slowly and gradually add half & half while stirring. Once mixed through, simmer for 5 minutes until well-blended.1 cup half & half
- Drain pasta and add it to the sauce. Mix through to combine.
- Add Parmesan cheese and mix well. Stir until fully incorporated, then top with parsley. Enjoy!1 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, parsley
Video
Notes
- I recommend salting the pasta water and cooking to al dente (just slightly underdone).
- You can use any variety of pasta you like, but I recommend using a type that holds sauce well, like macaroni noodles or a shell pasta such as orecchiette (my favorite).
- Diced ham can be used in place of sausage, but should also be browned in the skillet for best flavor before adding other sauce ingredients. Leftover ham is incredible for this.
- Make sure to slowly add the half & half while stirring or you may curdle the cream.
Nutrition
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