Description
A rich and creamy sausage pasta that’s quick and easy to prepare, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. This dish combines tender penne pasta with savory cooked sausage and a luscious heavy cream sauce, enhanced by a simple deglazing step to meld the flavors beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 tsp salt
Sausage and Sauce
- 1 pound sausage (Jimmy Dean regular pork sausage recommended)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Add 2 teaspoons of salt to a large pot of boiling water. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, usually around 10-12 minutes.
- Cook the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook thoroughly until browned and no longer pink inside, about 7-8 minutes. For added flavor, optionally add minced garlic or chopped green peppers during this step.
- Prepare the Sauce: Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate. Deglaze the pan by adding the reserved pasta water to the hot sausage pan, scraping up any browned bits. Reduce the heat to medium, then add the heavy cream and let it simmer gently for 3-5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine and Serve: Drain the pasta well and add it directly into the cream sauce. Stir thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. Return the sausage to the pan and mix to combine everything. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- You can customize the sausage by choosing spicy or mild according to your preference.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or milk for heavy cream.
- Adding sautéed garlic or diced green peppers enhances the flavor but is optional.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if it becomes too thick.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
