Tomato Basil Pasta

This Tomato Basil Pasta has savory pasta tossed in a delicious cream sauce with sausage, fresh tomatoes, and basil. You can't beat the flavors in this dish.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: people

Calories: 472kcal

Author: Stephanie

Ingredients

Sauce

1 cup half and half
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder, oregano, parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic salt

Sausage/Pasta, etc.

2 teaspoons olive oil
½ lb. ground sausage hot, sweet, or mild. See notes.
½ cup dry white wine see notes
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon softened cream cheese optional but recommended
¾ cup Parmesan cheese grated
½ pound orecchiette pasta see notes
1 cup cherry tomatoes
8-10 fresh basil leaves chiffonade. See notes.
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
Begin boiling a pot of salted water for the pasta while you proceed with the following steps.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook and crumble until cooked through, about 7 minutes. break it apart. Remove and set it aside.
Turn the heat off. Add the wine and set the heat to medium. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the skillet, this will add more flavor to the sauce. Simmer until reduced by half, about 4 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Melt the butter and gradually sprinkle in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the raw flour smell is gone.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and set a timer to avoid overcooking. Drain once cooked.
Add the sauce mixture to the skillet in small splashes, stirring continuously. Do this slowly to maintain the thickness of the sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
Add the tomatoes and cream cheese and stir to combine. Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously. Add the sausage back. Cover partially until the pasta is ready.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Stir in the lemon juice, if using, and remove from heat.
Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve with freshly cracked pepper.

Notes

Pro Tips:

Hot Sauce/Dijon Mustard/Soy Sauce: These are all flavor enhancers in the sauce that you can't taste outright, but they really round out the flavor profile.
- Hot sauce elevates the other flavors, Dijon adds a hint of tang and acidity, and Soy sauce adds umami. Worcestershire sauce can be used instead of soy sauce if needed.

Sausage: I use Jimmy Dean regular sausage in this recipe, it's delicious.
Wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc are my go-to dry white wines for this recipe. My next recommendation would be non-alcoholic white wine, which is widely available. While the wine does really elevate this, chicken broth can be used instead.
Parmesan: Grate the Parmesan from a block to ensure it melts well into the sauce and tastes the best. I use Belgioioso Parmesan cheese.
- (Packaged cheeses have anti-caking agents that prevent them from clumping in the packaging, but it also prevents them from melting as well in soups/sauces.)
Cream Cheese: This can be omitted if needed but it really adds a little something. I find that Philadelphia cream cheese from a tub (vs. a block), melts the best.
Tomatoes: Feel free to halve them depending on their size and your preference. You can also use drained canned tomatoes. Rotel is a nice addition and adds a little heat.
Basil: 3/4 tsp. of dried basil can be used if you don't have fresh.
To Chiffonade Basil: Stack the basil leaves and roll them tightly (handle gently as they bruise easily). Use a sharp knife to slice the basil into thin ribbons.

Pasta: Any kind of pasta works well in this dish, I like the way the pockets fill up with sauce with the orecchiette. Other great options include medium shells, rotini, and penne.

Storage

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
These leftovers reheat pretty well. I use the ‘melt’ setting on my microwave or you can reheat over 50% power. A makeshift double boiler reheats creamy pastas really well too!
Note: Fresh tomatoes start break down more after being reheated. (But I don't mind!)

Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. There are 6 servings in this recipe.

Nutrition