Description
This Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring crumbled spicy Italian sausage simmered in a rich tomato and cream sauce, infused with garlic, herbs, and red pepper flakes. Paired with perfectly cooked pasta and topped with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, it’s a comforting and slightly spicy meal perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Pasta
- 8 ounces spicy Italian sausage
- 12 ounces pasta (such as penne or spaghetti)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the sausage.
- Cook sausage: Remove the casing from the spicy Italian sausage and crumble it into the hot skillet.
- Brown the sausage: Cook the sausage, stirring occasionally, until browned and fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Set sausage aside: Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and set it aside to use later in the sauce.
- Add olive oil: In the same skillet, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to cook the aromatics.
- Sauté onion: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes: Stir in the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes: Pour the canned crushed tomatoes into the skillet and stir to combine with the onion and garlic mixture.
- Season sauce: Add dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the sauce and stir well.
- Simmer sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for 10-15 minutes to thicken and allow the flavors to meld.
- Boil pasta water: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook pasta: Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente.
- Drain pasta: Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water for adjusting sauce consistency if needed.
- Combine sausage and sauce: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet with the simmered tomato sauce and stir to combine.
- Add cream: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream until the sauce becomes creamy and uniform.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it thoroughly with the sauce.
- Adjust thickness: If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
- Add Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and allow it to melt into the sauce.
- Season to taste: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with extra salt and black pepper if necessary.
- Plate and garnish: Serve the pasta on plates, garnished with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
- Enjoy: Dig into your delicious spicy Italian sausage pasta!
Notes
- You can substitute spicy Italian sausage with mild sausage if you prefer less heat.
- Use penne, spaghetti, or your favorite pasta shape based on preference.
- Reserve pasta water is essential for adjusting sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice touch of color and freshness but can be omitted if unavailable.
- For a lighter dish, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, though the sauce will be less rich.
