Servings
Font
Back
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
4.1 from 170 votes

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta blends crumbled Italian sausage with aromatics like onion, celery, garlic, and herbs into a rich sauce thickened with heavy cream and Parmesan. The sauce simmers gently alongside pasta cooked al dente, offering a hearty and comforting texture with savory, herby, and slightly spicy notes from fennel, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. This pasta makes a satisfying dinner that combines tender meat sauce with creamy, cheesy flavors.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 697 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

For the sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 14 oz Italian sausage see note 1, meat
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 2 celery ribs chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon fennel ground
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary see note 2, dried
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes - see note 3
  • pinch nutmeg - see note 4
  • ⅔ cup white wine see note 5, dry
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ⅔ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • salt freshly ground
  • black pepper freshly ground
For the pasta
  • 12 oz dried pasta
  • 1 tablespoon salt
To finish
  • parmesan optional
  • parsley optional, fresh

Instructions

Make the sauce
    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.1 tbsp olive oil
  2. Add the Italian sausage and use a spatula to break the meat apart. Cook for 7-8 minutes until browned.14 oz / 400 g Italian sausage meat
  3. Add the onions and celery and lower the heat. Cook for 15 minutes until the vegetables are very soft.1 onion2 ribs celery
  4. Add the garlic, fennel, rosemary, red pepper flake, and nutmeg. Cook over low heat for 1 minute.2 cloves garlic1 tsp ground fennel1 tsp dried rosemary¼ tsp red pepper flakespinch nutmeg
  5. Deglaze the pan with the wine, and simmer for 2-3 minutes until reduced.⅔ cup / 160 ml dry white wine
  6. Add the cream and broth, season lightly with salt and pepper, then put a lid on the pan and cook over low heat for 20 minutes while you cook the pasta.1 cup / 240 ml heavy cream⅔ cup / 160 ml chicken/vegetable broth
Cook the pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the salt, and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the packet suggests.1 tbsp salt12 oz / 340 g dried pasta
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water, and then drain the pasta.
Finish the dish
  1. Add the cooked, drained pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat.
  2. Add ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water and cook everything over medium-low heat until the pasta is cooked to your liking.
  3. Stir in the parmesan, adding more reserved cooking water if the sauce seems too thick. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.½ cup / 55 g Parmesan cheese salt and freshly ground black pepper
  4. Serve garnished with more parmesan and chopped parsley. parmesan fresh parsley

Notes

  • Use mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage to adjust the dish’s spiciness according to your taste.
  • If using fresh rosemary instead of dried, double the amount for similar flavor impact.
  • Red pepper flakes are optional and should be adjusted depending on the sausage spiciness and personal preference.
  • Nutmeg is a subtle addition but can be omitted if unavailable.
  • Any dry white wine can be used; choose varietals like Soave or Pinot Grigio for complementary flavors.

Nutrition Information

Calories 697kcal (35%) Carbohydrates 71g (24%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 61g (94%) Saturated Fat 28g (140%) Polyunsaturated Fat 6g (35%) Monounsaturated Fat 23g (115%) Cholesterol 152mg (51%) Sodium 627mg (26%) Potassium 402mg (9%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 1035IU (21%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 247mg (25%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 697

% Daily Value*

Calories 697kcal 35%
Carbohydrates 71g 24%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 61g 94%
Saturated Fat 28g 140%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g 35%
Monounsaturated Fat 23g 115%
Cholesterol 152mg 51%
Sodium 627mg 26%
Potassium 402mg 9%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 1035IU 21%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 247mg 25%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.