Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

This creamy Italian sausage pasta is the perfect weeknight comfort food. It’s luxurious, flavorful, and packed with delicious ingredients like sausage, garlic, and parmesan.

Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 👩‍🍳 Recipe Tips | 🥗 Serving Suggestions | 📝 Full Recipe Card | 🍽 More Pasta Recipes To Try

This creamy Italian sausage pasta is my go-to when I want a special dinner without the fuss. It’s simple enough for a weeknight meal but elegant enough for entertaining. The combination of savory sausage, creamy sauce, tangy tomato paste, and savory parmesan cheese is a winner.

It’s indulgent and comforting without being overly heavy. The addition of spinach brings a touch of freshness and color to the dish.

Whether you’re in need of a hearty meal after a long day or want a flavorful one-pan dish, this recipe is a keeper.

A quick note on the Italian sausage: You can usually find ground sausage meat that’s already seasoned. If you have sausage links, simply remove the casing and use the meat inside. The sausage is the star ingredient that adds rich flavor to the dish.

👩‍🍳 You might also like these comforting one-pan meals: creamy pesto chicken pasta, Cajun shrimp pasta, marry me chicken orzo bake, chicken risotto with asparagus, or Spanish one pot chicken rice.

What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this creamy Italian sausage pasta recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

• Short pasta like rigatoni or penne – they catch the sauce so well!
• Olive oil – helps brown the sausage and adds flavor.
• Tomato paste – adds umami and that concentrated tomato goodness.
• Chicken broth – lightens the sauce a bit and brings savory depth.
• Cream – the base of that creamy lusciousness. You can use heavy cream for extra luxury or lighter cream to cut down on calories.
• Parmesan cheese – salty, nutty, and rich. Use fresh and grate yourself for the best flavor.
• Red pepper flakes & Italian seasoning – warmth and herby vibes.
• Yellow onion and garlic – the classic flavor duo.
• Fresh spinach – for a hit of green and earthy flavor; you can also add kale, chard, broccolini, or asparagus.
• Fresh herbs like basil or parsley – optional but adds brightness.
• Italian sausage – Mild, sweet, or fennel-spiced. You can buy it ground or in links. If using links, remove the casing and use the meat inside. If you don’t have Italian sausage, you can make your own blend with ground pork or beef seasoned with fennel seeds, garlic, paprika, oregano, and chili flakes.

How To Make Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Find the full recipe and nutritional information below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos for creamy Italian sausage pasta.

• Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
• Brown the Italian sausage in olive oil, breaking it up into crumbles. Set aside.
• In the same pan, sauté onion until soft. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
• Stir in tomato paste and cook until slightly darkened.
• Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Add cream and the sausage back in.
• Simmer until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan until smooth.
• Toss in the pasta and spinach. Add reserved pasta water if needed.
• Finish with fresh herbs and extra cheese. Serve hot!

Recipe Tips/Variations

• Don’t skip cooking the tomato paste for a minute or two—this deepens the flavor and makes it richer.
• Make it ahead: The sauce keeps well in the fridge for a day or two. Reheat gently and toss with freshly cooked pasta.
• Storage: Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water.
• Add-ins: Mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers would all work beautifully.
• Make it spicy: Use hot Italian sausage or add extra chili flakes.
• Want to lighten it up? Swap the heavy cream for light cream, half-and-half, or a mix of milk and Greek yogurt. Use less Parmesan or go for a leaner cheese like Grana Padano. For a lower-fat option, choose leaner Italian-style turkey or chicken sausage.

Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad or crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Try these side dishes:

💬 If you’ve tried this creamy Italian sausage pasta or any other recipe on the blog, don’t forget to rate the recipe and share your experience in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and sign up for my Newsletter for more delicious recipes.