Description
Hearty smoked sausage pasta delivers rich comfort on a plate with smoky, creamy goodness. Pasta lovers will savor this quick, satisfying meal that brings warmth and flavor to the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced into rounds
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain while preserving a small amount of cooking liquid.
- Sausage Searing: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Brown sliced smoked sausage until edges crisp and caramelize, then transfer to a holding plate.
- Aromatic Foundation: Reduce heat and sauté diced onions until translucent. Introduce minced garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes, releasing their robust essence and creating a fragrant base.
- Sauce Construction: Pour chicken broth into the skillet, scraping any caramelized bits. Integrate heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and ground pepper. Simmer gently, allowing the sauce to develop depth and slightly thicken.
- Cheese Integration: Gradually whisk Parmesan and complementary cheeses into the sauce, creating a smooth, luxurious texture that coats the back of a spoon.
- Final Assembly: Reunite sausage and pasta with the creamy sauce, gently tossing to ensure every morsel becomes enrobed in the rich, flavorful mixture.
- Garnish and Serve: Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and additional Parmesan, presenting a visually stunning and mouthwatering dish ready to be devoured immediately.
Notes
- Manage Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just shy of package instructions to maintain al dente firmness, preventing mushiness when combined with creamy sauce.
- Control Sausage Caramelization: Brown sausage over medium-high heat to develop deep golden edges without burning, creating rich flavor foundations.
- Balance Sauce Consistency: Whisk cheese gradually and simmer sauce gently to prevent separation, ensuring smooth, luxurious texture without graininess.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes and paprika according to personal heat tolerance, allowing flexible flavor customization for different palates.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg