Easy Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta Recipe for Weeknight Dinner

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Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta served in bowl

Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta is the perfect supper if you want something creamy, delicious, and filling that you can make quickly and easily. This meal is great for a weekday when you’re busy or for having friends and family around. The creamy sauce and smoky sausage flavor go wonderfully with the penne pasta to make a filling dinner that everyone will adore. This recipe will always make something delicious, no matter how long you’ve been cooking.

Let’s get into the details, from the materials to the step-by-step instructions, and find out why you’ll want to make this pasta meal all the time!

Things you need to make Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Ingredients laid out for Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Make sure you have all the items listed below before you start. You might notice that a lot of these ingredients are things you always have on hand, which makes this dish quite easy to make at the last minute.

  • 1 pound of sliced smoked sausage
  • 12 ounces of penne noodles
  • 2 teaspoons of olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, chopped up
  • One cup of heavy cream
  • 1 cup of chicken broth
  • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of Italian spices
  • ½ teaspoon of paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

These basic but tasty ingredients will provide just the right amount of richness, smokiness, and creaminess to your platter. The sausage gives the dish a great depth of flavor, and the creamy sauce makes each bite feel good.

How to Cook Pasta with Creamy Smoked Sausage

Cooking smoked sausage in a skillet

Making this creamy pasta dish is quite simple and doesn’t take much time to prepare. Just follow these easy steps to make your food come together!

  1. First things first, boil that pot of water! Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and heat it up on high. When the water is boiling, add the penne pasta and cook it for 9 to 11 minutes, or until it is al dente, as the packet says to do. After it’s done, drain the pasta and put it to the side. This will let the pasta soak up all the creaminess in the next steps!
  2. It’s time to add the smokey flavor now! Put olive oil in a big skillet and heat it up over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook it until it is beautiful and brown with crispy edges. This should only take 5 to 7 minutes, but if you like it extra crispy, you may cook it for a bit longer.

    Take the sausage out of the skillet and put it aside when it’s done. You’ll add it back later to combine it with the sauce.

  3. Add the diced onion to the same skillet with the residual oil and sausage drippings. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onion is tender. The bits of sausage that are left over will provide more flavor to the onion, which will give the base of your sauce a wonderful savory kick. When the onion is cooked, add the minced garlic and simmer for another minute, or until it smells good. Garlic cooks quickly, so watch it closely to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  4. Now we’re going to make that rich cream sauce. Add the chicken stock and heavy cream to the skillet with the onion and garlic. Mix everything together and heat it up until it starts to bubble. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes so the sauce can thicken a little.

    At this point, you should start to see the sauce come together, giving it a lovely, smooth texture. The cream and broth together make this dish rich and cozy. The creamy sauce will cover the pasta in a way that will make everyone want to eat more!

  5. Now comes the best part: adding the shredded mozzarella cheese! Mix the cheese into the sauce until it melts completely and the sauce gets thick and creamy. The mozzarella will make the sauce a little thicker, which will help it cover every strand of pasta flawlessly.

    Next, add the Italian spice, paprika, and salt & pepper to taste. Mix everything together carefully to ensure sure the seasoning is spread out evenly in the sauce. The paprika gives the sausage a slight smokiness, while the Italian seasoning gives the mix a warm, herbal flavor.

  6. Now is the moment to put everything together! Put the cooked smoked sausage back in the skillet and stir it into the creamy sauce. Stir well so that the sausage is fully covered in the thick, tasty sauce. Add the drained penne pasta to the skillet once the sausage is well mixed in. Mix everything together, making sure that the sauce and sausage cover the spaghetti well.

    The creamy sauce should soak into the pasta, making each bite taste even better. You can always add a little chicken broth or pasta cooking water to the sauce to make it less thick.

  7. It’s time to serve once everything is mixed together and the dish is hot. Put the creamy smoked sausage spaghetti on plates and top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for a splash of color and freshness. This garnish gives a mild, herbal flavor that balances out the dish’s richness.

    Serve right away and enjoy the comforting aromas of this tasty pasta recipe!

Information about nutrition

Want to know how many calories? This is the nutritional information for Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta:

  • Each serving has 450 calories.
  • Servings: 4

This dinner is filling and tasty, but it doesn’t have too many calories, so it’s a good choice for a balanced supper. You can add some color and extra nutrients to the plate by serving it with a fresh salad or roasted veggies.

How to Serve Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Serving Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta garnished with parsley

Want to know what the best side dish to go with this rich, creamy pasta is? Here are some great choices that go well with the flavors of Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta:

  • Roasted Vegetables: For a tasty and healthy side dish, try serving this spaghetti with roasted carrots, brussels sprouts, or zucchini.
  • You can’t go wrong with some crunchy garlic bread to mop up any extra creamy sauce.
  • Green Salad: A light, crunchy green salad with a tangy vinaigrette will be a nice change from the heavy pasta.
  • Steamed or sautéed broccoli has a little bitter taste that goes nicely with the creamy pasta and sausage.

Don’t forget to drink something cool with this lunch, such iced tea, lemonade, or even sparkling water, to balance off the richness of the food.

Changes and Personalizations

This recipe for creamy smoked sausage pasta may be used in so many ways. Here are some ways you can change things up to fit your tastes or dietary needs:

  • Change the sausage: You may use chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even a plant-based sausage instead of the sausage if you want a healthier or vegetarian option.
  • Put in some vegetables: Add spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce to make it healthier.
  • Add some heat: If you want things hot, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
  • Gluten-free pasta: To make this dish gluten-free, just use gluten-free pasta instead of penne.

Things You Shouldn’t Do

To make sure this dish comes out correctly every time, here are some things to avoid:

  • Overcooking the pasta: Cook the penne pasta until it is al dente, because it will keep cooking when you mix it with the hot sauce. If you cook pasta too long, it can get mushy.
  • Burning the garlic: Garlic may burn rapidly, so always cook it over medium heat and watch it closely. Garlic that has been burned will taste bad and change the flavor of the meal.
  • If the sauce is too thick, you may easily thin it out by adding a little more chicken broth or pasta water. Adding more liquid is always easier than fixing a sauce that is too thin.
  • Not enough seasoning: Taste and adjust the seasoning as you go. A little bit of salt and pepper may really make a difference in the taste.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Can I use a different kind of pasta for this recipe?
Yes! You can use rigatoni, fettuccine, or bowtie pasta instead of penne in this recipe. Just make sure the pasta can handle the thick sauce.
Can I prepare this meal in advance?
It’s ideal to eat it fresh, but you may make the sauce and sausage combination ahead of time and then add the cooked pasta when you’re ready to serve. When you heat it up again, you might need to add a little extra liquid.
How do I save leftovers?
You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container. Put the sauce back on the burner over low heat, and add a little chicken broth or milk to help it loosen up.
Is it okay to freeze this dish?
You can freeze this recipe, although the cream sauce may change texture when it thaws. If you want to freeze it, put it in a jar that can go in the freezer for up to three months. To bring the sauce back to life, reheat it completely and add a little bit of liquid.

In conclusion

This creamy smoked sausage pasta is a cozy, delicious, and very filling meal that you can eat any time. This recipe is sure to please, whether you’re cooking for your family or having a dinner party. Everyone will want to eat this dinner because of its creamy sauce, smokey sausage, and great mix of spices. Give it a try today and let the creamy sweetness take over your mouth!

If you want more easy and tasty dishes like this one, look at these links for more ideas:

A creamy and rich smoked sausage pasta with smoky sausage, a delicious cream sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese. This easy-to-prepare recipe will make everyone at your dinner table who loves pasta happy!

Things you need

  • 12 oz penne pasta and 1 lb sliced smoked sausage
  • Two teaspoons of olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped up; 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 cup of heavy cream
  • 1 cup of chicken broth
  • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon of Italian spices
  • ½ teaspoon of paprika
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

How to do it

  • Cooking the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions. Drain and put aside.
  • Prepare the Sausage: Put olive oil in a big skillet and heat it over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it is browned and crispy. Take the sausage out of the skillet and set it aside.
  • Cook the onion and garlic in a pan. Add the diced onion to the same skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is tender. Add the minced garlic and heat for another minute, or until the smell fills the room.
  • Make the sauce for the cream: Add the heavy cream and chicken broth and stir to mix. Let the mixture come to a simmer and cook for 3–4 minutes, which will thicken the sauce a little.
  • Put in the cheese and spices: Add the shredded mozzarella cheese, Italian spice, paprika, salt, and pepper to the mix. Keep swirling until the cheese melts and the sauce is thick.
  • Put the sausage and pasta together: Put the cooked sausage back in the skillet, and then add the drained pasta. Mix everything together to properly coat the noodles with the creamy sauce.
  • To serve, add fresh parsley on top and serve right away. Enjoy the deep, smoky taste of your creamy smoked sausage pasta!

 


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