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Sausage Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce
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Sausage Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

A hearty weeknight pasta featuring browned sausage, onions, garlic, and a creamy tomato sauce. Simple, comforting, and serves four.

Prep:10 min
Cook:25 min
Total:35 min
Servings:4
easy
pasta
sausage
weeknight
italian
dinner

Ingredients

  • •12 oz Pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
  • •12 oz Italian sausage
  • •2 tbsp Olive oil
  • •1 medium Yellow onion, finely chopped
  • •3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
  • •2 tbsp Tomato paste
  • •14 oz Crushed tomatoes
  • •0.5 cup Chicken stock or water
  • •0.5 cup Heavy cream (optional)
  • •0.25 tsp Red pepper flakes (optional)
  • •0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • •3 tbsp Fresh basil or parsley

Instructions

  1. 1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain.
  2. 2.Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a plate.
  3. 3.In the same skillet, add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3–5 minutes.
  4. 4.Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. 5.Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen the color and sweetness.
  6. 6.Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken stock. Bring to a gentle simmer and stir in the red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. 7.Let the sauce simmer for 8–10 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
  8. 8.Stir in the heavy cream (if using) and Parmesan. Return the sausage to the pan and simmer for another 1–2 minutes to blend flavors and slightly thicken the sauce.
  9. 9.If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until it coats the pasta. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to combine.
  10. 10.Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with extra Parmesan and garnish with chopped basil or parsley.