Italian sausage rose pasta
Italian sausage rose pasta is a rich and comforting dish featuring savory Italian sausage combined with a creamy rose sauce—a perfect balance of tomato and cream. Ready in under 30 minutes, this flavorful pasta is ideal for busy weeknights or casual dinners, delivering a satisfying and family-friendly meal with simple pantry staples and fresh ingredients.
- Author: Emily
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Not Gluten Free
Meat and Protein
- Italian sausage: 12 ounces, mild or spicy, removed from casing and crumbled
Sauce
- Tomato sauce (crushed tomatoes): 1 cup
- Heavy cream: 1/2 cup
- Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
- Onion: 1 small, diced
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper: to taste
Pasta
- Penne or rigatoni pasta: 12 ounces
Finishing Touches
- Parmesan cheese: 1/2 cup, freshly grated
- Fresh basil or parsley: 1/4 cup, chopped
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your chosen pasta until al dente, typically 9 to 11 minutes. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency later if needed.
- Brown the sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the Italian sausage into the pan and sauté until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally to break it up.
- Sauté aromatics: Add minced garlic and diced onion to the skillet with the sausage, cooking until fragrant and soft, roughly 3-4 minutes. This step builds a savory base for your rose sauce.
- Prepare the rose sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream to create a silky pink sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Transfer the drained pasta to the skillet and toss it with the sausage rose sauce until well coated. If the sauce feels too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it up perfectly.
- Finish with cheese and herbs: Remove from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley. This final touch adds a burst of flavor and brightness to your creamy Italian sausage rose pasta.
Notes
- Use quality Italian sausage for the best flavor.
- Add cream off the heat or on low to prevent curdling and maintain silky sauce texture.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without watering down flavor.
- Season gradually, tasting as you go to achieve perfect balance.
- Add fresh basil or parsley at the end to keep their vibrant flavor intact.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: Italian sausage rose pasta, creamy pasta, quick pasta recipe, sausage pasta, rose sauce pasta