Description
Hearty “spicy italian sausage pasta” delivers robust Mediterranean flavors with bold, zesty ingredients dancing through creamy, perfectly al dente noodles. Sizzling sausage and aromatic herbs promise a memorable Italian-inspired dining experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (450 grams) spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
Pasta and Base:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) uncooked penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid and Seasoning:
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1 (14.5-ounce/410 grams) can diced tomatoes, with juices
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a capacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge penne pasta, cooking until tender yet firm, then drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble Italian sausage into the pan, fragmenting it with a wooden utensil. Sear until golden and thoroughly cooked, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Introduce diced onions into the sausage-filled skillet, sautéing until translucent and softened. Incorporate minced garlic, allowing it to release its aromatic essence for one minute.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth or white wine, using a spatula to liberate caramelized remnants clinging to the skillet’s base. Allow liquid to reduce and intensify flavors for two minutes.
- Cascade diced tomatoes with their natural juices into the mixture. Stream heavy cream, sprinkle dried basil, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Simmer gently, permitting ingredients to harmonize and sauce to thicken slightly.
- Transfer cooked penne into the skillet, thoroughly coating pasta with the robust sauce. Fold grated Parmesan cheese until completely melted and integrated.
- Extract skillet from heat source. Embellish with freshly chopped basil leaves and optional additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Swap spicy Italian sausage with plant-based alternatives for a vegetarian version, using crumbled tofu or mushroom-based sausage substitutes.
- Reduce heat intensity by cutting down on crushed red pepper flakes or using mild sausage for sensitive palates.
- Gluten-free modifications work perfectly by using gluten-free penne pasta and checking sausage ingredients for wheat-based fillers.
- Make the dish lighter by replacing heavy cream with Greek yogurt or low-fat milk to create a healthier sauce without sacrificing creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg