Smoked Sausage Pasta is a flavorful meal featuring tender penne pasta tossed in a creamy, herb-infused sauce with smoky sausage, sautéed bell peppers, and garlic. This weeknight favorite is easy to make, full of Italian-inspired flavor, and incredibly yummy!
You're going to want to add this recipe to your meal plan!
I love how versatile this easy smoked sausage pasta recipe is to make. The pasta cooks while you brown the sausage and chop the peppers and onions. Then it's just a matter of cooking down the veggies and assembling the dish, which comes together so quickly.
While this isn't quite a 30-minute meal, it's really close. It's perfect for those nights when you want a filling dinner but don't have a lot of energy to cook.
Ingredients
This is a brief overview of this creamy smoked sausage pasta recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- Pasta: Any short pasta will work, but I like to use penne for this dish.
- Olive Oil: Any neutral oil will work.
- Sausage: For this recipe, you can use andouille sausage, kielbasa, or even bratwurst. Typically, I look for Hillshire Farm or Smithfield smoked sausage. You could also use chicken or turkey sausage for a healthier alternative.
- Onion: I prefer sweet onions, but yellow or white onions also work in this recipe.
- Garlic: I recommend fresh garlic whenever possible. Use a microplane to grate it very small so it perfumes the entire dish. You can substitute 2 teaspoons of garlic powder for fresh garlic if needed.
- Bell Peppers: You can use any bell peppers you like.
- Diced Tomatoes: Do not drain the diced tomatoes. For a spicy kick, substitute with diced tomatoes with green chilies.
- Heavy Cream: This gives the pasta it's creamy, rich texture. It is also sometimes called whipping cream.
- Chicken Broth: Either chicken broth or chicken stock will work. You could also use vegetable stock.
- Seasonings: You will also need fresh parsley, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Variation:
For a baked dish, skip the parmesan cheese and instead use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or pepper jack cheese and bake for 10 minutes at 375F until the cheese is melted.
Storage
To Store: Leftovers of your smoked sausage pasta skillet meal should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last 4-5 days. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
To Reheat: Microwave individual portions in 30 second intervals until heated throughout.
Similar Recipes
If you love cooking with different types of sausage, try one of these delicious pasta and sausage recipes:
- penne with sausage and broccolini
- Italian sausage pasta
- sausage mac and cheese bake
- Italian sausage gnocchi bake
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Smoked Sausage Pasta
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Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 lb smoked sausage sliced
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.16 oz penne pasta
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the sliced sausage and cook for about 5 minutes until the slices are browned on both sides. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 lb smoked sausage
- Add the onion to the skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes until translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.1 onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Add the diced red and yellow bell peppers, cooking for another 5 minutes until they begin to soften.1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper
- Add in the remaining ingredients, except for the cheese, and return the sausage to the skillet.1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup chicken broth, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried basil, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt, black pepper
- Bring the sausage mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 5-7 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and cook for 2-3 minutes until melted and the pasta is heated through.1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Taste and add additional salt or pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
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