Description
Creamy Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage is a warm, hearty meal that combines tender ear-shaped pasta, savory Italian sausage, and a rich, velvety cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this comforting yet elegant dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or family meals, delivering delicious flavor and satisfying textures with easy-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta & Sausage
- 12 oz orecchiette pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed)
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add orecchiette and cook according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- Brown the sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove sausage from casings, crumble it into the pan, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
- Sauté garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet with sausage fat and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn it to maintain its sweetness.
- Prepare the creamy sauce: Pour heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth, creating a luscious sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sausage: Add the drained orecchiette pasta and browned sausage back into the skillet. Toss everything together gently, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach a smooth, creamy consistency that coats every piece.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Fold in chopped fresh parsley or basil right before serving to add a fresh and vibrant note that brightens the creamy richness.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to loosen and bind the sauce to the pasta.
- Use good quality Italian sausage for best flavor.
- Cook pasta to slightly firm (al dente) to prevent mushiness.
- Gently toast garlic to avoid bitterness.
- Add Parmesan cheese at the end to keep sauce silky and prevent clumping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Creamy pasta, Orecchiette, Sausage pasta, Italian sausage recipe, Quick dinner, Comfort food, Family meal
