Description
Cheesy Sausage Pasta is the ultimate comfort food: hearty, creamy, and full of bold Italian flavors. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends, this one-pan dish brings together tender penne pasta, savory sausage, and a rich tomato-cream sauce loaded with melted cheese. It’s family-friendly, satisfying, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Essential Ingredients:
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Optional Add-Ons:
- Red pepper flakes, for heat
- Spinach or kale (1–2 cups), added with the cream
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced and sautéed with the sausage
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and cooked through (about 6–8 minutes).
- Add diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with their juices) and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 3–4 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Mix well to coat.
- Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh basil and optional red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute penne with any short pasta like rotini, rigatoni, or fusilli.
- Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3–4 days and can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: cheesy sausage pasta, creamy sausage pasta, Italian pasta recipe, one-pan pasta, pasta with sausage and cream