Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta: Easy One Pot Dinner
A quick and easy one-pot creamy Italian sausage pasta that combines tender noodles with a rich, savory sauce. This weeknight savior requires minimal cleanup and delivers restaurant-quality comfort food in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot, casings removed)
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1.5 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low-sodium)
- 3 cloves garlic, freshly minced
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it into crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Pour in chicken broth, marinara sauce, and heavy cream. Stir well, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add uncooked pasta and stir to ensure noodles are submerged.
- Bring mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 12-15 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes to prevent sticking, until pasta is al dente and sauce has thickened.
- Stir the cooked sausage back into the pot. Remove from heat and immediately add grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Stir gently until cheese melts.
- Season with black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
Stir frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Keep heat moderate to avoid breaking the cream sauce emulsion. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth. If too thin, cook longer. The pasta will continue to absorb sauce as it cools, so serve immediately. For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast. Gluten-free pasta can be used but may require closer monitoring of cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 42
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
Keywords: one pot pasta, creamy sausage pasta, easy weeknight dinner, italian sausage, comfort food, quick meals, family friendly