Description
Comfort meets elegance in this irresistible Smoked Sausage Pasta, blending hearty flavors with silky smooth sauce. Rich Italian-inspired ingredients dance together, creating a perfect meal that welcomes you to savor each delicious forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced into rounds
Pasta and Dairy:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until tender yet firm, following package guidance. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Activate a skillet with olive oil over robust heat. Introduce sliced smoked sausage, transforming them into golden-brown delicacies through intermittent stirring. Extract sausage and temporarily set aside.
- Reduce skillet temperature and welcome diced onions, coaxing them into translucent submission. Immediately introduce minced garlic, smoky paprika, and fiery red pepper flakes, allowing aromatics to release their intense fragrance.
- Cascade chicken broth into the skillet, encouraging a gentle simmer while liberating caramelized remnants clinging to the pan’s surface. Incorporate heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and ground pepper, allowing the mixture to harmonize and thicken slightly.
- Gradually melt Parmesan and complementary cheese varieties into the sauce, whisking until achieving a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Reunite previously seared sausage and perfectly cooked pasta with the creamy elixir, gently tumbling ingredients to ensure comprehensive coating.
- Allow the ensemble to meld and warm through, creating a cohesive culinary composition that promises delectable complexity.
- Finalize the dish with a delicate sprinkle of fresh parsley and additional Parmesan, transforming the presentation into a visually enticing masterpiece ready for immediate consumption.
Notes
- Choose short pasta shapes like penne or rigatoni to help sauce cling perfectly, creating maximum flavor in every bite.
- Swap regular smoked sausage with chicken or turkey sausage for a leaner protein option without sacrificing delicious smoky taste.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes – reduce for mild flavor or increase for spice lovers who enjoy bold, zingy sensations.
- Create a gluten-free version by using alternative pasta made from chickpea, rice, or lentil flour, ensuring everyone can enjoy this creamy comfort dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg