Description
Hearty creamy Italian sausage pasta delivers rich comfort in one skillet. Parmesan cheese and herbs combine deliciously, promising a satisfying meal you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300 g (10 oz) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
- 300 g (10 oz) Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt (for boiling water)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Generously salt a large pot of water and bring to a vigorous boil over high heat for pasta cooking.
- Pasta Cooking: Immerse pasta and cook to package instructions, targeting an al dente consistency that offers slight resistance when bitten.
- Liquid Preservation and Pasta Transfer: Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water before straining, then immediately transfer pasta to a warm serving dish to maintain temperature and prevent sticking.
Notes
- Preserve Pasta Water Wisely: The starchy pasta water is liquid gold for creating a silky, cohesive sauce that clings perfectly to pasta, helping blend ingredients seamlessly.
- Control Boiling Precision: Salt the water generously and monitor cooking time closely to achieve al dente texture, preventing mushy or undercooked pasta.
- Temperature Management: Keep pasta warm after draining by using a pre-heated serving dish, which prevents rapid cooling and maintains optimal sauce absorption.
- Strategic Liquid Retention: The reserved 1/2 cup cooking liquid acts as a secret sauce enhancer, allowing you to adjust consistency and bind ingredients smoothly without separating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg