Description
This Easy Sausage Pesto Pasta is a perfect weeknight dinner recipe that combines flavorful Italian sausage with creamy basil pesto sauce and tender pasta. Quick to prepare and packed with savory goodness, it’s an ideal comforting meal for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or rotini
Sauce and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
- Optional: red pepper flakes for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Brown the Sausage. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
- Add Garlic. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the Sauce. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and basil pesto until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly with the sauce. Add reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes until everything is heated through. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and optional red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
Notes
- You can use spicy or mild Italian sausage based on your flavor preference.
- Add cherry tomatoes or baby spinach during the last few minutes of cooking for extra color and nutrition.
- This dish reheats well; add a splash of cream or water while reheating to keep the sauce silky.
