Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta

5 from 2 votes

This delicious Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta is the 30-minute meal you’ve been waiting for! It’s full of Italian porky goodness and coated with a super flavorful simple sauce composed of jarred roasted red peppers, heavy cream, and fresh basil pureed right together. It’s rich, creamy, comes together quickly, and is incredibly tasty!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings:

Calories: 545kcal

Author: Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

12 ounces pasta such as penne or medium shells
2 cups roasted red peppers (16 ounce jar), drained
½ cup chicken broth low sodium
1 cup heavy cream
6 fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ pound Italian sausage casings removed
1 medium shallot chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, add the roasted red peppers, chicken broth, heavy cream, and basil to a blender and blend until smooth.
In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage to the skillet and brown, braking it down with a wooden spoon.
Add chopped shallot and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes or until the onion is tender. Season with salt.
Stir in the roasted red pepper sauce and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the drained pasta and Parmesan cheese and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and serve with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Notes

Salt your pasta water. Salt your pasta water with at least a big tablespoon of salt to season the penne. The water should taste salty like the sea.
Use quality ingredients. Simple pasta dishes are easy to make, but the layered flavors are based on quality ingredients. So for the best results use better quality ingredients.
Make it spicy. This red pepper Italian sausage pasta is fantastic with some red pepper flakes added to the sauce or sprinkled on top right before serving. Or use spicy Italian sausage.
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. However, I don’t suggest storing it in the freezer. To reheat, simply add a few tablespoons of water to add some moisture, then cover it, and put it in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium. You can also reheat it on the stove in a pan if you prefer.

Nutrition