Creamy Tomato Pasta with Browned Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 poundItalian sausage (sweet or hot, your preference)
- 1 mediumyellow onion
- 3 clovesgarlic
- 1 28-ounce cancanned crushed tomatoes
- ½ cupheavy cream
- 1 poundpenne or rigatoni
- 1 tablespoonolive oil
- ·salt
- ·black pepper
- ¼ cupfresh basil (packed)
- ½ cupParmesan cheese (grated)
Prep
- 01
Dice 1 medium yellow onion.
- 02
Mince 3 cloves garlic.
- 03
Chop 1/4 cup packed fresh basil.
- 04
Grate 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- 02
While water heats, warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking it into bite-sized chunks with a spoon, and cook for 6–8 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- 03
Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 04
Add crushed tomatoes (including juices) and stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes to marry flavors.
- 05
Stir in heavy cream and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes until heated through.
- 06
Toss cooked pasta with sauce. Divide among bowls and top with fresh basil and Parmesan.
Spice Tips
For a subtle warmth, use hot Italian sausage instead of sweet. For deeper flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. A splash of white wine (about 1/4 cup) stirred in after the onion adds brightness—cook off the alcohol for 1 minute before adding tomatoes.