Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish made with savory sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, a luscious heavy cream sauce, and tender pasta. While indulgent, the addition of spinach adds a fresh, feel-good touch.
This pasta dish is very similar to my recipe for marry me chicken tortellini. Both pasta recipes have a similar vibe, featuring a garlicky tomato cream sauce with tangy sun-dried tomatoes and tender spinach.
Rich and tasty, you'll be tempted to make this one-pot meal regularly. Though a little more time-consuming than making a simple marinara sauce or Italian broccoli pasta, this recipe is well worth the effort and easy enough to whip up for a weeknight meal. Add a tangy fresh green salad with arugula and spinach, and your dinner is complete.
If you enjoy these types of sausage pasta recipes, have a look at my recipe for marinara with sausage (a family classic at our house) and rigatoni al forno, which is like lasagna but a whole lot easier. Who doesn't love that?
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Gather your Ingredients
Cooks Notes
- Sun-dried tomatoes are sold dehydrated, oil-packed, or marinated with vinegar and herbs. I used the marinated kind for this recipe, though either type will work.
- If you are using the dehydrated variety, simply soak them in hot water for a few minutes to rehydrate. If you are using the oil-packed kind, blot excess oil with a paper towel.
- Some grocery stores sell sausage in bulk, similar to ground beef. Both forms work for this recipe. Choose casing-free sausage to speed up prep work.
- Pork sausage adds enough saltiness to this dish for my taste. Adjust the seasoning to your liking.
Find the detailed recipe below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Substitute the penne pasta with any tubular pasta, such as rigatoni or ziti. Tubular pastas are great for holding onto creamy sauces.
- Mild or spicy Italian sausages are interchangeable here-go with what you like.
- Swap the parsley with fresh basil for even more flavor.
- Instead of Italian seasoning, add 1 teaspoon each of dried basil and oregano.
- Black olives would be a great addition to this creamy sausage pasta recipe.
How to Make Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
This creamy sausage pasta is hearty and flavorful. It's a dish all die-hard pasta fans will appreciate.
Cook Pasta
Bring a large of pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions, but undercook it by 2 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water then drain and set aside.
Brown Sausage
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and sauté until browned and fully cooked.
Sauté Aromatics
To the same skillet add the onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Make Sauce
Deglaze the skillet with pasta water, scraping up browned bits. Simmer, then stir in cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 5-8 minutes until slightly thickened.
Toss Pasta with Sauce
Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve
Add parsley, stir, divide into bowls and enjoy. Serve with a dusting of Parmesan cheese (optional).
Helpful Hints
- Seconds before draining, remove 1 cup of the pasta water. This is when the water is most concentrated in starch, which helps thicken the sauce.
- Drain the pasta a few minutes shy of the recommended cooking time. This way, when tossed with the sauce, it is perfectly cooked, al dente.
Make Ahead
The ingredients can be prepped a few hours ahead of time, though all perishables should be refrigerated until ready to cook.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: I don't recommend freezing.
Reheating
- Microwave: Add a splash of water to each individual portion and reheat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each.
- Stovetop: Add the pasta to a saucepan with a splash of water and heat gently over low heat, stirring often.
Recipe FAQs
Try using half and half and simmer the sauce for a few extra minutes to thicken the sauce.
Yes, try turkey or chicken sausage. Even a vegetable-based sausage will work.
Mushrooms and zucchini would be amazing. Because of their short cooking times, these two veggies would pair well with this dish.
Recipe
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Equipment
- large pot
- chef's knife or paring knife
- measuring cups and spoons
- large skillet or braiser
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta, or other short pasta
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed and separated into bite-size pieces
- 1 small yellow onion, about 1 cup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cloves of garlic, about 1 tablespoon, finely minced
- 1 cup pasta water
- ½ cup heavy cream, sometimes labeled 35% heavy cooking cream or whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, may be omitted
- 4 cups packed fresh baby spinach, about 5 ounces, washed and roughly chopped
- ½ cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- ⅓ cup finely chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
Optional
- Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, to garnish the finished dish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large of pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions, but undercook by 2 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water then drain and set aside.8 ounces penne pasta
- Brown Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and sauté until browned and fully cooked.1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- Sauté Aromatics: To the same skillet add the onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant1 small yellow onion, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 4 cloves of garlic
- Make Sauce: Deglaze the skillet with pasta water, scraping up browned bits. Simmer, then stir in cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 5-8 minutes until slightly thickened.1 cup pasta water, ½ cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 4 cups packed fresh baby spinach, ½ cup roughly chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Add parsley, stir, divide into bowls and enjoy. Serve with a dusting of Parmesan cheese (optional).⅓ cup finely chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Donna Poirier says
We love this recipe, and it's one of our current favorites. I hope you do, too.