Spicy Sausage Pasta
Penne noodles and hot Italian sausage tossed in a spicy creamy sauce, this easy flavor-packed dinner can be made in under 30 minutes!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 686kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup yellow onion small dice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more
- 1 1/4 cups half and half
- 1/2 cup parmesan preferably freshly shredded (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the sausage until cooked through and lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate, cover, and set aside.
- Melt the butter in the pan. Add the onion and sauté until softened and starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté another 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often.
- Add the half and half, parmesan, and salt, and stir until everything is well combined. Simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Toss the drained pasta and sausage with the sauce until everything is well coated. Top with more parmesan and red pepper flakes (optional). Serve warm.
Notes
- I used freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. While any parmesan will work in this recipe, freshly grated will produce the best results.
- Half and half is simply equal parts whole milk and heavy cream. If you need to make your own for this recipe, I suggest 2/3 cup whole milk mixed with 2/3 cup of heavy cream.
- Store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 686kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1185mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 491IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 191mg | Iron: 2mg
