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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.
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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:

4.99 from 253 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.

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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4.99 from 253 votes (179 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




170 Comments

  1. Ali Kamel says:

    5 stars
    Thank you very much
    That looks delicious!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      You are so welcome!! I hope you try it!

  2. Misty says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was DElicious! I loved the flavor with the sausage in it. My daughter said she could have this for every meal- hahaha

  3. Meghan says:

    5 stars
    This meal is a huge Hit with my family. We love it and its def in our rotation a lot

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay!! I love hearing that! Thank you for letting me know 🙂

  4. Kristi says:

    5 stars
    I love the bit of heat in this pasta dish! Do delicious.

  5. Amy L Huntley says:

    5 stars
    One of the best pasta recipes that I have made! Making this one again soon! Everyone LOVED it!

  6. Joy says:

    5 stars
    My family loved this dish! We love sausage & it was a nice change from using chicken. It was super tasty & easy to make.

  7. Susan says:

    Just had it this evening. We loved it! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for sharing. P.S. Only confusion was with what size canned tomatoes your recipe called for. I used a 26.5 oz. box of Italian tomatoes and it was perfect.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you for letting me know!! I am happy to hear it is a keeper!!

    2. Fran says:

      I haven’t made recipe yet, but I was going to ask what size can of tomatoes? It says tow but small or large?

      1. Kristyn Merkley says:

        It like the 15 ounce 🙂

  8. Brianna says:

    5 stars
    This is such an easy And deliCious meal for any day of the week! Plus you will have a yummy lunch for the next day as well!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yes! Thank you so much for sharing that!

  9. Marylyn Woudstra says:

    5 stars
    I Made this for the family, while cooking I tASTED IT AND I loved it, I know they will. Thanks for sharing!

  10. Ana says:

    5 stars
    Wow!! This is realllly good!!!!! Love it ?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yay! I am so glad you think so! Thank you for letting me know!