Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta
Rich and comforting pasta with smoky sausage and creamy sauce. A quick, flavorful dish perfect for satisfying meals with optional veggie and cheese add-ins.
Equipment
- 1 large pot for boiling pasta
- 1 large skillet for sausage and sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta penne, rotini, fettuccine, or rigatoni
- Salt for boiling water
- 14 oz smoked sausage sliced into rounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup milk optional, to loosen sauce
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon paprika smoked paprika preferred
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
- Optional: fresh spinach or peas
- Optional: sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers
- Optional: fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions.
- Reserve half a cup of pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook sliced sausage until browned and slightly crispy, about 4–5 minutes.
- Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add heavy cream and optional milk, stirring in Parmesan cheese, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Simmer sauce gently for 3–5 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Return cooked pasta and sausage to skillet and toss to coat in the creamy sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce if needed; season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Add andouille sausage or smoked paprika for extra smoky flavor.
- Include vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or bell peppers for nutrition.
- Substitute mozzarella or cream cheese for a creamier sauce.
- Cooking pasta slightly underdone helps it finish cooking in the sauce.