Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne or rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne or rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese.