Comforting Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.

When the weather turns cooler, all I want to cook is comfort food. Do you feel the same way? Cozy, indulgent dinners like my meat lover’s pizza casserole or big pot of Italian sausage soup are always on repeat in our house this time of year. And this Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta deserves a spot right alongside them! 

This is the kind of dinner you make then you want something comforting but not complicated. When I think of comfort food, I personally think of pasta – especially tossed in a creamy tomato sauce with crumbled Italian sausage and warm, herby Italian flavors. It’s salty, slightly spicy, and feels a little indulgent without being over the top. Best of all, it comes together quickly, so before you know it, dinner is on the table!

The Ingredients:

Here’s a list of the ingredients along with a few notes and substitutions.

• Olive oil: A little olive oil is used to help sauté the onions, garlic and brown the sausage. 
• Yellow onion: You can use white, yellow or a sweet onion. 
• Italian sausage: The star of the dish! Italian sausage adds so much flavor to recipes. I use mild, but if you like spice, go ahead and use spicy Italian sausage. 
• Garlic: Garlic is used to add flavor. Never can have too much garlic!
• Tomato paste: Tomato paste has so much flavor because it’s super concentrated. I decided to make the tomato sauce with tomato paste and beef stock then added some diced tomatoes. I find that it has a richer flavor. 
• Can of diced tomatoes: I love chunks of sweet tomatoes in my sauce. 
• Dried basil, parsley, and oregano: These are the spices I used to season the recipe. You can also use a few teaspoons of Italian seasoning. 
• Salt and pepper: Salt and pepper help flavor the dish. Although, you won’t need much due to the Italian sausage. 
• Beef stock: A little beef stock is used to create the sauce.
• Heavy cream: You can use as much or as a little heavy cream as you would like. The heavy cream helps create a rich and indulgent sauce. 
• Pasta: Any type of pasta would work in this recipe! 
• Reserved pasta water: I always reserve some pasta water (before draining the noodles, ladle some of the pasta water into a bowl.) Pasta water helps thin out pasta recipes if the sauce is too thick. 
• Parmesan cheese: A good sprinkle of parmesan cheese is the perfect touch before diving into this creamy Italian sausage pasta!

I am not a complicated cook when it comes to making a meal for my family. This is a cheap yet filling meal that my entire family enjoys…even kiddos! Italian sausage is a secret ingredient because it’s already seasoned and full of flavor. Cooking it down with tomatoes is a wonderful way to use it and this pasta proves it!

Substitutions:

• Don’t like Italian sausage? Feel free to use ground beef, turkey or chicken. More salt and pepper will most likely be needed. 
• Don’t want to use heavy cream? Feel free to leave it out, use a little full fat coconut cream, or cream cheese to create a creamier sauce. 
• Can this be made gluten free? Absolutely! Just use GF noodles. 
• Trying to add more vegetable to your diet? Serve this over roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts or potatoes. Zucchini noodles would also be delicious!

I sure hope you enjoy this quick and easy family friendly dinner as much as we do!

Continue to Content

Yield: 4

Creamy Sausage Pasta

Print

A simple yet indulgent pasta recipe comprising of creamy tomato sauce and crumbled sausage. This is a great weeknight meal that everyone loves!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1, 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (don't drain)
• 1/2 teaspoon each of dried basil, oregano, and parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, room temperature (just take out once you begin the cooking process)
• 1 pound favorite pasta
• 1/2 - 1 cup reserved pasta water (after noodles boil, reserve about 1 cup)
• parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

1. In a large pot, add olive oil and set over medium heat. Add crumbled sausage and diced onion and cook until sausage is cooked through, about 10 minutes.
2. Next, add garlic and saute for 2 additional minutes.
3. Add all the spices and tomato paste - basil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper. Stir well and cook for a few additional minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot.
4. Finally, add the diced tomatoes and beef stock. Stir everything together and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
5. While it's simmering with the lid off, prepare pasta according to package directions.
6. Once sauce is done cooking, slowly pour in heavy cream. Add pasta and stir everthing together. If the sauce seems to thick, add 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water to thin it out - you can add more if necessary. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram