Description
This Garlic Butter Sausage Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish combining savory browned sausage bites sautéed in garlic butter with a rich, creamy Parmesan pasta. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, this recipe brings together tender pasta coated in a luscious sauce made from heavy cream, chicken broth, and freshly grated Parmesan, accented by aromatic garlic and Italian herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Seasoning
- 1 pound sausage links
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Sauce and Pasta
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces pasta
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Sausage: Place the sausage links on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut them into bite-sized pieces.
- Melt Butter: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter, allowing it to melt fully.
- Cook the Sausage: Add the sausage pieces to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes.
- Boil Pasta: While sausage cooks, bring a pot of salted water to a boil on the stove.
- Cook Pasta: Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions, typically 8-10 minutes, until al dente.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then set the pasta aside.
- Remove Sausage: Once browned, remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant.
- Add Seasonings: Sprinkle Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes over the garlic, stirring for another 30 seconds.
- Add Broth: Pour the chicken broth into the skillet, bringing it to a simmer while scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom.
- Incorporate Cream: Reduce heat to low and add the heavy cream, stirring to combine with the broth.
- Thicken Sauce: Allow the cream to warm through, then stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Season Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as desired.
- Combine Sausage and Sauce: Return cooked sausage to the skillet and stir to combine with the creamy sauce.
- Add Pasta: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat the noodles evenly with sauce.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water a little at a time to achieve desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate the creamy Parmesan pasta topped with the garlic butter sausage bites; garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use any type of sausage you prefer, such as Italian, pork, or chicken sausage.
- Reserve pasta water as it helps adjust the sauce consistency without diluting the flavor.
- For a spicier dish, increase the red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce.
- This dish pairs well with a green salad or steamed vegetables.
- For a lower-fat version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk, adjusting cooking time to thicken the sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove.
