The Cozy Cook

Book cover graphicThe Cozy Cookbook is here! Order Now!

Creamy Sausage Pasta

This Creamy Sausage Pasta recipe has a cream cheese and Parmesan blend with roasted red peppers, sweet or spicy Italian sausage, spinach, and your choice of pasta!

Be sure to try my Italian Sausage Pasta recipe next! 

A white plate with creamy sausage pasta with roasted red peppers and rigatoni.

Creamy Sausage Pasta

The flavors in this recipe are incredible! It’s got sweet or spicy sausage, roasted red peppers, spinach, and the most flavorful garlic Parmesan cream sauce.

A white wine reduction adds even more flavor, along with a hint of tomato paste that’s offset with softened cream cheese that’s melted into the sauce. (And the seasonings are incredible.)

You can get as creative with the ingredients as you want! Use any kind of pasta, sun dried or diced tomatoes instead of roasted red peppers, kale instead of spinach, Asiago instead of Parmesan, chicken broth instead of wine, (I could go on for days). OR, keep it all as-is and get ready for an amazing meal!

How to Make It

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Sauté the sausage until browned and cooked through. Set aside. Deglaze the pan with white wine and use a silicone spatula to ‘clean’ the bottom of the pan. Add tomato paste and garlic. Reduce by half, about 4 minutes. Add chicken broth and seasonings. 

A skillet with cooked sausage next to a skillet with tomato paste, wine, and chicken broth to make pasta sauce.

Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer. Add the roasted red peppers and stir in the softened cream cheese until combined.

Adding cream, cream cheese, and roasted red peppers to a saucepan for creamy sausage pasta.

Let it bubble gently and reduce while you cook the pasta to al dente. Reduce sauce to low heat and gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese until combined. Add the spinach and the sausage along with any juices from the plate.

Adding sausage to a skillet with a cream sauce.

Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes and serve.

Adding rigatoni to creamy sausage sauce and stirring to combine.

Pro Tips

  • I used Premio Sweet Italian Sausage for this recipe, Ground sausage can also be used if preferred. 
  • Diced tomatoes or Sun Dried Tomatoes can be used instead of roasted red peppers. 
  • Kale can also be used instead of spinach, add it to the sauce when the pasta is about halfway cooked through, it will need longer to heat through.
  • I used Colavita Rigatoni for this recipe, but any kind of pasta can be used in this recipe. 
  • Chicken broth can be used instead of wine if needed.
  • This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 151!

Storage

  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 

A close up view of rigatoni noodles in a Creamy Sausage Pasta with red peppers and spinach.

Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

  • This is the Le Creuset skillet I used in this recipe, (and in 90% of my recipes). It’s pricey, but it conducts heat really well and is oven safe. The size is perfect and the quality is great.
  • Pasta Strainer– This is the one I have 🙂 
  • Box Cheese Grater– Always shred cheese from a block, it melts and tastes much better. Bagged shredded cheese contains cellulose which prevents it from melting as well.
  • Spice Rack-This is the one I have, it’s a snap to measure out your seasonings quickly and easily. (Big time saver.)

Try These Next

 

Get My Free Meal Plan

I’ve got a Free Meal Plan with 7 of my super popular recipes (complete with grocery list)! Sign up for my email list and I’ll send it over now along with weekly dinner recipes!

And follow me on FacebookInstagram, and Pinterest!

Tried This Recipe?

Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A plate with Creamy Sausage Pasta with Rigatoni.

Creamy Sausage Pasta

4.98 from 96 ratings
This Creamy Sausage Pasta recipe has a cream cheese and Parmesan blend with roasted red peppers, sweet or spicy Italian sausage, spinach, and your choice of pasta!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Italian sausage, hot or sweet
  • ½ cup dry white wine, See notes
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 7 oz. jar roasted red peppers, drained, Equal to about 1 cup.
  • 1 ½ cups spinach
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • ½ lb. rigatoni
  • Fresh parsley, to garnish
  • Red pepper flakes, to garnish

Instructions

Prep Work:

  • Combine the chicken broth, mustard powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning and set aside.
  • Measure out additional ingredients before beginning.

Instructions:

  • Cut the sausage into 1/2-inch thick slices. Heat 6 tablespoons water over medium heat in a large, high-walled skillet. Add the sausage. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove lid and increase heat slightly, cook until browned, 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  • Carefully drain excess grease from pan but leave brown remnants. Add the white wine, tomato paste, and garlic to the pan and set to medium heat. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pot. Let it bubble gently until reduced by half, about 4 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth and seasonings. Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the roasted red peppers and stir in the softened cream cheese.
  • Let the sauce bubble gently while you boil the pasta to al dente. Don’t overcook. Drain once cooked.
  • Reduce sauce heat to low. Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously to incorporate. Add the spinach and the sausage along with any juices from the plate. Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes and serve.

Notes

Pro Tips:
  • Wine: Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay are great in this recipe. Chicken broth can be used instead of wine if needed.
  • I use Premio Sweet Italian Sausage links in this recipe. Spicy sausage links or ground sausage can also be used if preferred.
  • Diced tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes can be used instead of roasted red peppers.
  • Kale can also be used instead of spinach, add it to the sauce when the pasta is about halfway cooked through, it will need longer to heat through.
  • I used Colavita Rigatoni for this recipe, but any kind of pasta can be used in this recipe.
  • This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 151!

Storage:
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 685kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 141mg, Sodium: 1456mg, Potassium: 519mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1857IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 249mg, Iron: 2mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Order The Cozy Cookbook!

Easy Recipes. Extra Comfort.

Order your copy today!

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Click the Stars to Rate This Recipe




211 comments on “Creamy Sausage Pasta”

  1. Made it today, using sun dried tomatoes because I did t have roasted red peppers.  Fast, easy, and delicious!  Definitely a keeper.  

  2. Absolutely deelish!  I love every recipe! On this site!  I have even learned how to make gravy and cream sauces!  So fantastic!  

  3. This really is the best pasta dish I’ve ever made and my son eats a LOT of pasta. My husband has declared this the best pasta we’ve ever even had. (I do like the flavor so much more with the sun dried tomatoes!)

  4. Stop what you’re doing and MAKE THIS. I am an avid cook, make all kinds of meals throughout the week and my husband loves my food. He told me this has to be one of the best things I’ve made. Easy and delicious!

  5. This is one of my go to recipes. The flavors roll around in your mouth and explode with delicious flavors. I make at least three of your recipes over the weekend. Meal prep and for work lunches. 
    Thank you 

    • Thanks so much Dawn, you’re the best! It makes me so happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipes!❤️ Extra happy to hear you’ve been able to enjoy some yummy lunches!

  6. Very good!! For the cream I used a whole can of evaporated milk and a pint jar of chicken broth that I had canned. (I like a lot of sauce.) Because of that I did had an extra tablespoon of tomato paste. I also used Merlot for the wine. Excellent recipe! Hubby loved it too. Thank you for sharing!

  7. Made this with Cajun sausage and it was perfection! 

    • That’s so great to hear Alvena! I bet it has a nice little kick with the Cajun Sausage, great idea! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖

  8. Hi. How much is a half pound of pasta? A box is 16 oz. I am a new cook so excuse me if this is a dumb question.  

  9. This is by far one of my favorite recipes I have found! It’s now my go to for any dinner party or event. Everyone who tries it absolutely loves it. Instead of rolling my hot sausage into tiny meatballs (which I did do the first time), I now just cooked it as ground sausage and mixed that into the pasta. Tastes the same, saves me time because I don’t have to hand roll every meatball, and it ensures that every bites has alittle ground sausage. Highly recommend! 

  10. This is so good, one of my favorites from your blog. Thank you!

As Seen On…