Description
Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender rotini pasta tossed in a rich, cheesy sauce with browned smoked sausage and diced tomatoes. This hearty recipe is perfect for family dinners and comes together in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sausage
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
Sauce
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 4–7 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups half and half
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
- 15 oz diced tomatoes, drained
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook until browned and slightly crispy. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside.
- Make Roux and Garlic Base: In the same skillet, melt the salted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and minced garlic until fully incorporated and smooth, forming a roux base.
- Add Liquids: Slowly pour in the half and half while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Add the chicken stock and stir to combine into a creamy sauce.
- Season the Sauce: Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir well to blend all the flavors.
- Melt Cheese: Add the shredded cheese to the sauce and stir until the cheese melts completely, creating a smooth, creamy texture.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the browned sausage to the skillet, add the cooked pasta and drained diced tomatoes. Toss everything together to coat evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving dishes and top with shredded Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy this comforting creamy sausage pasta.
Notes
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add red pepper flakes when seasoning the sauce.
- Feel free to substitute smoked sausage with kielbasa or andouille sausage for a different flavor profile.
- Use whole milk instead of half and half for a lighter sauce, but the sauce may be less creamy.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and substitute the flour with a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch.
- Ensure the diced tomatoes are well drained to prevent the sauce from becoming watery.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
