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Easy cheesy Italian sausage pasta is creamy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It’s a family favorite ready in only 20 minutes!

Italian sausage adds the perfect flavor to any pasta dish. We also love Italian sausage in soups like our Tortellini Soup or Sausage Soup!

Italian Sausage Pasta on a white plate topped with shredded parmesan.


We Love Pasta!

Our family has always been long-time fans of pasta, as well as long-time fans of sausage. It’s only natural to combine the two in this tasty dinner idea to make Italian Sausage Pasta. It was an instant hit and is on our rotation of easy dinner ideas.

We usually make Pasta or a similar Italian dish on Tuesdays each week, and this one that is never missed. The whole family loves it!

Why we love it:

  • Quick. It only takes about 20 minutes to throw everything together. A quick prep time is perfect for busy weeknights!
  • Easy. There are few ingredients and just a few steps.
  • Tasty. This is a hit with both kids and adults alike – it’s packed with flavor!
Bow tie pasta draining in a yellow colander.

Simple Ingredients

  • bow tie pasta Substitute pasta with a bed of White Rice, Cauliflower Rice, Mashed Potatoes, or Baked Potatoes.
  • mild Italian sausage – or use spicy pork sausage, chicken sausage, or turkey sausage. You can even exchange the sausage for ground beef or ground chicken.
  • onion 
  • minced garlic or garlic cloves
  • crushed red pepper flakes  optional to taste
  • Italian stewed tomatoes  – canned Diced tomatoes work too, but we usually will add extra seasonings
  • heavy cream
  • salt
  • dried basil
  • Parmesan cheese – Substitute the Parmesan with mozzarella, or a blend of provolone, fontina, Romano, and asiago. 
Mixing sausage and sauce together in a skillet on the stove.

Ready in 20 minutes

  1. PASTA. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot. Drain and set aside.
  2. SAUSAGE. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage, onion, garlic, and pepper flakes, stirring, for 4–5 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
  3. SAUCE. Stir in tomatoes, cream, salt, basil, and ½ cup Parmesan and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes or until thickened.
  4. SERVE. Add pasta to the sausage mixture and toss. Garnish with remaining ½ cup Parmesan before serving.

Recipe Tips

Italian Sausage and Pasta recipe in skillet with bowtie pasta mixed in.

Storing Info

  • STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    • Reheat in the microwave, oven, or a pan on the stove. The pasta may have absorbed some of the liquid leaving it dried out. Feel free to add a bit more cream before heating. 
  • FREEZE. Whether you’re freezing this ahead of time or wish to save any leftovers. Cool and pour into an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 4 months.
    • Thaw and heat on the stovetop over LOW heat stirring constantly. Add a small amount of cream as needed to revitalize the sauce.
Italian Sausage Pasta topped with shredded parmesan cheese on a white plate.

For More Pasta Dishes:

Fettuccine Alfredo

35 mins

Recipe Video

4.99 from 246 votes

Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Easy cheesy Italian sausage pasta is creamy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It's a family favorite ready in only 20 minutes!
Servings: 5
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 (16-ounce) package bow tie pasta
  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage
  • ½ cup chopped onion optional
  • teaspoons minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans Italian stewed tomatoes drained and chopped
  • cups heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage, onion, garlic, and pepper flakes, stirring, for 4–5 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
  • Stir in tomatoes, cream, salt, basil, and ½ cup Parmesan and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes or until thickened.
  • Add pasta to sausage mixture and toss.
  • Garnish with remaining ½ cup Parmesan before serving.

Video

Notes

Variations: Swap out the mild Italian sausage for chicken sausage, turkey sausage or spicy sausage, or substitute mozzarella or a blend of provolone, fontina, Romano, and Asiago cheeses for the Parmesan. You can also add vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms or spinach in Step 3.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 650kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 60g, Saturated Fat: 30g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 167mg, Sodium: 1269mg, Potassium: 368mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1286IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 248mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




161 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is such an easy, peasy recipe, and my family just gobbled it up! I’m totally putting this on my meal plan again next week.

  2. 5 stars
    My family DEVOURED this! I make spaghetti a lot, so this was a nice way to change up Italian night at our house. Adding it to our regular meal rotation!

  3. 5 stars
    Yes, this is very very good. I had to use cream cheese because I did not have heavy cream. I would suggest 3 oz only. And we can’t use Basil.

  4. 5 stars
    I am not a big recipe guy, yet the basis made sense. Absolutely great meal. I added to much red pepper and not enough garlic. I only went back for seconds twice. Thanks!

    1. 5 stars
      This Italian sausage pasta turned out so creamy, delicious and easy to make! The whole process took less than 30minutes to make!