Blue Cheese, Sausage, and Walnut Pasta

Name: Blue Cheese, Sausage, and Walnut Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: salt; 1 cup walnut halves; 1 tablespoon (1/2 oz) butter; 1 pound sweet Italian sausage; 1 pound store-bought or homemade fettuccine, spaghetti or bucatini; 6 ounces blue cheese; 2 cups half-and-half; freshly ground black pepper

User Reviews

4.9

30 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings
4 servings
Calories
1339 kcal
Course
Main Course
Cuisine
American

Blue Cheese, Sausage, and Walnut Pasta

Iris Warren

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This blue cheese, sausage, and walnut pasta is rich, creamy comfort food made with walnuts, sweet Italian sausage, pasta, and blue cheese. It's an easy-peasy way to have dinner on the table when you're getting antsy for a quick yet ultra-satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

Servings

salt
1 cup walnut halves
1 tablespoon (1/2 oz) butter
1 pound sweet Italian sausage casings removed
1 pound store-bought or homemade fettuccine, spaghetti or bucatini
6 ounces blue cheese crumbled, plus more for sprinkling
2 cups half-and-half
freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Scatter the walnuts on the baking sheet and roast until fragrant and lightly browned at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes.
Immediately transfer the walnuts to a cutting board and let cool before coarsely chopping them.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned and no trace of pink remains, 8 to 10 minutes.
Cook the pasta in the boiling water, stirring often, until al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package instructions. When the pasta is done, drain it, reserving at least 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.
Add the cheese and half-and-half to the sausage, crank the heat to high, and boil, stirring often, until the half-and-half thickens a bit, 3 to 4 minutes.
Carefully dump the drained pasta into the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and simmer, tossing constantly, until the pasta is cooked through and the liquid has thickened, about 3 minutes more. If desired, thin the sauce with some of the reserved pasta cooking water.
Taste the pasta and season with pepper and salt, if needed.
Divide the pasta among warm bowls and top with more blue cheese and the walnuts. Serve immediately.

Notes

Cooking pasta--Take care to only boil the pasta until al dente as it will continue to cook when added back to the sauce.
Storage--This pasta is best served the day it is made, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating--To reheat leftover blue cheese pasta, place it in a saucepan over low heat and add a splash of half-and-half or cream. Warm until the pasta is heated through and the sauce has loosened.

Nutrition Information

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Serving 1serving Calories 1339kcal (67%) Carbohydrates 96g (32%) Protein 48g (96%) Fat 85g (131%) Saturated Fat 33g (165%) Monounsaturated Fat 27g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 168mg (56%) Sodium 1400mg (58%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 9g (18%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 1339 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving	1serving
Calories	1339kcal	67%
Carbohydrates	96g	32%
Protein	48g	96%
Fat	85g	131%
Saturated Fat	33g	165%
Monounsaturated Fat	27g	135%
Trans Fat	0.1g	5%
Cholesterol	168mg	56%
Sodium	1400mg	58%
Fiber	6g	24%
Sugar	9g	18%