Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
This Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta is a hearty comfort food great for the whole family! Tender pasta is tossed in a rich, spicy sauce made with hot Italian sausage, heavy cream, broth, and warm spices. The best part is this hearty pasta dish comes together so quickly – it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
If you love a good pasta dish, you’re in for a treat with this Spicy Sausage Pasta. It’s the perfect combination of spicy flavor + creamy sauce + hearty meat. And it all comes together in under 30 minutes, making weeknight dinner a breeze!
Plus, this is a great dish if you’re feeding large crowds because the cook time is very short, and yet the flavors are very big! If you’re still skeptical, make this for dinner tonight and watch it disappear from your kitchen table. I promise it will become a new favorite!
And if you’re on the hunt for more easy pasta recipes, be sure to try this Creamy Cajun Salmon Pasta and Cheesy Baked Bechamel Pasta. And don’t forget the shellfish delight with this Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta. These are just some of my favorite pasta dishes but check out all the pasta meals here.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Spicy (Hot) Italian Sausage: Use your favorite spicy sausage. You will need about 3-4 hot Italian sausage links with casings removed.
Heavy cream: Adds richness to the creamy Italian sausage pasta and helps to thicken the sauce.
Chicken stock: Combined with the cream, chicken broth or stock helps to create that rich and flavorful sauce.
Pasta: A 16-ounce box of rigatoni will work. You can also use your favorite type of pasta like penne pasta or another short pasta.
Chives: I love the freshness of fresh chives but you can also use fresh chopped parsley or omit this all together.
HOW TO MAKE SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When oil is hot, add diced onions and cook until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the sausage links and break it up into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the chicken stock and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
Step 2: Reduce heat to medium and add the heavy cream, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well.
Step 3: Add chives and freshly grated cheese. Stir and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce thickens a bit.
Step 4: Add cooked pasta and toss to combine. Sprinkle more Parmesan cheese and chili flakes, if using.
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- Cook pasta al dente. Don’t overcook the pasta. You want it to be firm to the bite as it will continue to cook when added to the sauce. A good rule of thumb is to cook your pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package directions.
- Deglaze the pan. If there are any stuck sausage pieces on the bottom of the pan, deglaze with broth or white wine (for extra flavor!) and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any pieces.
- Cook the sauce until it thickens. It’s normal for the sausage to release fat and make the sauce runny and thin, especially when adding other ingredients like chicken broth and heavy cream. Continue to cook on medium or low heat until it thickens–the starch from the pasta will help thicken the sauce.
Confidence Tip
Garnish this spicy Italian sausage pasta with additional grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes for a beautiful visual presentation.
STORAGE & REHEATING
- Storage: Ensure the pasta dish has completely cooled down before storing it. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat this pasta dish on the stovetop. Place a skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat, add a little bit of water or broth to the pan, then add the pasta. Stir occasionally until heated through. You can also pop it in the microwave for a few minutes, covered with a damp paper towel to prevent the pasta from drying out.
- Freezing: While this dish can be frozen, I don’t recommend it because freshly cooked pasta can become soft when frozen and thawed. Additionally, creamy sauces can sometimes separate and change texture when after thawing.
Additions & Substitutions
ADDITIONS:
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Chopped sun-dried tomatoes add a sweet and tangy flavor.
- Leafy greens: Consider adding chopped kale or baby spinach during the last few minutes of cooking for added color and nutrition.
- Crumbled bacon: Crispy bacon adds a savory and smoky flavor to this creamy sauce pasta recipe. It complements the other ingredients well.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Sausage: If you want the dish less spicy, use mild Italian sausage, sweet Italian sausage, or even turkey sausage. Any savory sausage meat will work in this recipe!
- Tomato paste: If you’re out of tomato paste, feel free to use tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. You may need to cook a little longer for the liquid to evaporate and the sauce to thicken, but it will still work!
- Pasta: Have fun with this easy pasta dish. Use a different pasta shape to correlate with seasons and capture the kid’s attention.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Absolutely! When sauteing the onions, feel free to add extra veggies like sweet bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini. You can also blanch or steam them first to remove some of the moisture.
You can make the sauce and cook the pasta and store them in separate containers. When ready to assemble, bring them together in a skillet over medium-high heat before serving.
Alternatively, you can make it per recipe and transfer it to a baking dish. Cover it and refrigerate for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, reheat it in a preheated oven at 375°F for 20 minutes or until warmed through.
Yes! You can easily use less cayenne pepper or omit it altogether. You can also use a regular sausage instead of spicy sausage to keep the spiciness down.
If you find that your dish is too spicy, add creaminess to offset the spicy flavor. This can be additional heavy cream, cream cheese, or even sour cream or a bit of cream cheese–yumm!
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I hope you love this Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta. If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 16oz. box rigatoni or your favorite pasta shape
- 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
- 1 lb. spicy Italian sausage (3-4 links), casings removed
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper can also use chili powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp fresh or dried chives
- 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese + more for serving
- red pepper flakes (optional), for additional heat
Instructions
- Prep: Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and set aside (See Note 1).
- Cook: While pasta is cooking, start making the sauce. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When oil is hot, add onions. Cook 2-3 minutes.
- Add: Add the sausage links and cook sausage, breaking it up into pieces with the wooden spoons until cooked through — about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the chicken stock and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
- Add: Reduce heat to medium and add the heavy cream, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and smoked paprika. Mix well. Then, add chives and freshly grated cheese. Stir and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until sauce thickens up a bit.
- Finish: Add pasta and toss to combine. Sprinkle on more Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, if using.
As a spicy lover I was in heaven with this dish. The recipe was easy to follow and the end result was a blend of heat and flavours. If you are looking for a Pasta dish with a kick of spice, i would definitily recommend to try this dish. It left me craving for more.
My absolute favorite pasta dish!! Seriously so delicious and easy to make. Even my picky kiddos love this recipe! Thank you!
I’m getting so hungry just looking at this! I love that creamy sauce with the spicy sausage. Yummo!
This is my go-to on busy weeknights! Super easy to make, filling, and the entire family loves it!
This is sooo my kind of recipe! I love that the sausage adds great heartiness and I definitely love the creamy, cheesy goodness! This is a fab recipe for a great meal!
Oooh, so many incredible and comforting flavors packed into this pasta. I especially love the combination of Italian sausage and cream.
Such a filling and tasty dinner! Am adding it to my weekly meal prep!
I just love how easy this dinner idea is to make! 🙂 Perfect for busy weeknights.
This is comfort in a bowl! The whole family loved it and asked for more. Dinner can’t get any better on a busy weeknight!
My husband and I loved this spicy italian pasta! It was a super easy recipe to make, and just the right amount of spicy.