Description
A rich and creamy Italian sausage bow tie pasta that’s perfect for weeknights or special dinners. Tender bow tie pasta is tossed in a savory tomato-cream sauce with browned sweet Italian sausage, garlic, and onions, then finished with fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. This hearty and flavorful dish serves six and brings restaurant-quality taste to your home kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 16 oz package bow tie pasta
Sauce and Sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 14.5 oz cans Italian diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain the pasta but do not rinse it, allowing the starchy surface to help thicken the sauce later.
- Brown Sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the crumbled sausage and red pepper flakes. Cook until the sausage is evenly browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the browned sausage. Cook until the onions are tender and translucent, stirring frequently to avoid burning the garlic.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the Italian diced tomatoes, heavy cream, and salt into the sausage mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 8 minutes to meld the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained bow tie pasta into the skillet with the sauce. Stir well to thoroughly coat the pasta. Continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes, allowing the pasta to absorb some sauce and the mixture to thicken further.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in the fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese until fully combined. Serve immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This dish balances rich cream and savory tomato with spicy sausage for a comforting meal.
- Leaving the pasta unstirred prevents rinsing off the starch, which helps thicken the sauce.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Fresh basil and Parmesan add bright, fresh finishing flavors that elevate the pasta.
- Perfect for serving families or dinner guests looking for an easy yet impressive meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 625 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: fifty five g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
