Description
This Garlic Butter Sausage Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta recipe combines savory, smoky sausage with a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. Easy to prepare on the stovetop, this flavorful Italian-American dish makes a comforting and satisfying weeknight meal, garnished with fresh parsley for a burst of freshness.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sausage
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- 1 pound smoked sausage or Italian sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook for 5 to 6 minutes until browned on both sides. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Add Cheese: Whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sausage: Return the cooked pasta and browned sausage to the skillet. Toss everything together to coat well in the sauce. If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Final Heat: Cook for an additional 2 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For extra richness, stir in a handful of baby spinach or sun-dried tomatoes just before serving.
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream if you prefer a lighter sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute the pasta with your favorite gluten-free pasta variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
