Description
This Creamy Chicken Sausage Pasta delivers incredible flavor in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner. The recipe features savory browned chicken sausage and penne pasta tossed in a luxurious tomato-cream sauce elevated with Italian seasoning and a kick of spice. It’s a cozy and satisfying meal that tastes like it simmered for hours but comes together in a flash.
Ingredients
12 ounces penne pasta (gluten-free pasta if needed)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces (4 links) Italian chicken sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter or more olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Pinch of red pepper flakes
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
24 ounces Marinara sauce
1 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream, or cashew cream)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
To Serve: Freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil, fresh thyme
Instructions
Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
Brown the Sausage and Aromatics:
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook until browned on both sides. Remove and set aside. In the same skillet, melt the butter, then cook the diced onion for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, and cook for one more minute.
Build the Creamy Tomato Sauce:
Stir the tomato paste into the onions and cook for one minute to deepen the flavor. Pour in the marinara sauce and heavy cream, and bring to a gentle simmer.
Combine and Serve:
Return the browned chicken sausage to the sauce and season with salt. Add the cooked penne and toss to coat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Serve immediately, topped with grated parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
Notes
Add Some Greens:
For a boost of nutrients and color, stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale at the end of cooking and let it wilt into the creamy sauce.
Dairy-Free Version:
To make this dish dairy-free, use olive oil instead of butter, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream or cashew cream, and use a dairy-free parmesan alternative.
Make-Ahead Sauce:
The sauce can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply reheat the sauce while you cook a fresh batch of pasta.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: chicken sausage pasta, creamy tomato pasta, 30-minute meal, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe, penne pasta