🍝 Italian Sausage and Penne Pasta
A rich, comforting pasta with savory sausage, tender penne, and a flavorful tomato-cream sauce—perfect for a weeknight dinner that tastes like restaurant quality.
🛒 Ingredients
- 400–450 g (14–16 oz) penne pasta
- 450 g (1 lb) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (400 g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional for creamy version)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- ½–1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil penne in salted water until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Brown the sausage
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned and crumbled.
- Remove excess grease if needed.
3. Build the sauce
- Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 10–15 minutes until thickened.
4. Make it creamy (optional)
- Stir in heavy cream for a richer sauce.
5. Combine
- Add cooked penne to the sauce.
- Toss well, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
6. Finish
- Stir in grated Parmesan and garnish with fresh herbs.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Serve with garlic bread 🥖
- Pair with a fresh green salad 🥗
- Add extra cheese on top for a melty finish
🔥 Tips
- Use spicy sausage for a kick
- Don’t overcook pasta—it will continue cooking in the sauce
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies
- A splash of red wine in the sauce adds depth
🍝 Why it works
The sausage adds bold flavor, the tomatoes bring richness, and the Parmesan ties everything together into a hearty, satisfying pasta dish.
If you want, I can also give you a baked cheesy version, a one-pot skillet version, or a lighter healthy version.