Easy Creamy One-Pot Sausage Pasta
A quick and comforting one-pot pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage, creamy sauce, and tender pasta, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed (spicy or sweet)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz uncooked pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- A handful fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
- Optional: 2 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large deep skillet. Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- In the same pan, add chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add uncooked pasta and chicken broth to the pan. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with lid slightly ajar, and simmer pasta until tender, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add extra broth or water if liquid evaporates too quickly.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Return cooked sausage to the pan and mix until creamy and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Optional: Stir in baby spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add more broth or cream to loosen. If too thin, simmer uncovered to reduce. Use medium heat to avoid burning pasta. Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated. For gluten-free, substitute pasta accordingly. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: one-pot pasta, sausage pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal, Italian sausage, comfort food