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Creamy Sausage Pasta Recipe – Savory and delicious, this creamy sausage pasta recipe is quick, easy, and so tasty – perfect for busy nights! With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can create a nourishing dish filled with seared smoked sausage, tender pasta, healthy spinach, and creamy goodness. This easy creamy sausage pasta recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and will become a staple in your house. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the creamy sausage pasta recipe
- 11 ounces orzo pasta
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 1/2 ounces chopped sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- 2 handfuls baby spinach, rinsed and pat dry
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon double-concentrated tomato paste
- ¼ cup chopped basil leaves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes, for serving
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Why you’ll love this creamy sausage pasta recipe
Sundried tomatoes add a ton of flavor to your creamy sausage pasta, perfectly complementing the creamy and indulgent Parmesan sauce. And the best part? This recipe is easy for your cleaning duties, too, using just two pans for a stress-free cooking experience. Finally, this pasta dish is incredibly versatile, allowing you to get creative with your pantry and freezer items for a delicious and personalized meal. You don’t have to follow the recipe exactly with the same ingredients – make it your own with what you have at hand!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
How to make creamy sausage pasta:
1. Get your prep done before you start cooking: Slice the sausage. In a bowl, combine sausage with paprika, garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
2. Mince the garlic and onion, grate the Parmesan, chop the sun-dried tomatoes, and chop the basil leaves.
3. Boil the orzo al dente in salted water, following the package directions. Drain when ready.
4. In the meantime, heat oil and butter over medium-high in a large skillet. Place sausage slices in a single layer and sear for 1 or 2 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and put into a shallow plate.
5. Add the onion, garlic, and sauté for 1 minute over medium-low. Then, add the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Italian seasoning, and the remaining pepper. Cook for 1 minute more. Add flour and stir until incorporated. Deglaze with chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes while scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of your skillet with a wooden spoon.
6. Pour in cream and stir in tomato paste. Bring to a boil. Allow the sauce to simmer for 3 minutes or until the pasta finishes cooking. Finally, stir in Parmesan.
7. Toss with pasta and sausage. Finish off with chili flakes. Serve the creamy sausage pasta immediately. Enjoy! ❤️
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips and substitutions for the sausage pasta recipe
- Sausage: We like smoked pork sausage, but feel free to experiment with any pre-cooked sausage you like: andouille sausage, smoked kielbasa, etc…
- Pasta: We like how orzo contrasts with chunky sausage slices, but you can use rigatoni, fusilli, or penne because they are excellent choices for sauce adherence.
- Sun-dried tomatoes are a big flavor enhancer! Drain thoroughly the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes to avoid an overly oily and clumpy sauce. If you do not have sundried tomatoes, use fresh cherry tomatoes instead.
- Chicken Broth: Vegetable broth can be an alternative to deglaze the skillet. You can also swap it for dry white wine.
- Heavy Cream creates a rich, creamy, and flavorful sauce; for optimal thickness, avoid using half-and-half or light cream.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated for a creamy texture and rich, savory taste. Avoid pre-grated parmesan sold in plastic cans. No parmesan? Try Pecorino, Asiago, Grana Padano, or any other hard-aged cheese.
- Tomato Paste: Deepens the flavor profile and imparts a subtle, sweet-tangy note to the sauce.
- Basil Leaves: Infuse aromatic freshness; parsley is a suitable substitute.
What to serve with the creamy sausage pasta?
While this pasta dish holds on its own, you can pair it with a crisp green salad on the side.
How can I make this pasta dish healthier?
You can use turkey sausage and replace heavy cream with a lighter alternative, such as half-and-half (keep an eye on the sauce to avoid separation, though).
How to keep creamy sausage pasta leftovers
You can keep any leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 days in your refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave with a few drops o water to loosen the sauce.
More sausage pasta recipes
- Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta Recipe
- 20-Minute Sausage Pasta Skillet
- Instant Pot Sausage Pasta in Cream Cheese Tomato Sauce
- Cheesy Sausage Rotini Pasta
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
