This Creamy Sausage Pasta Skillet is cozy, quick, and downright delicious! It’s one of those magical recipes that comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent hours stirring and simmering. It’s creamy, comforting, and just a little bit spicy—the perfect way to bring everyone to the table with big smiles (and even bigger appetites).
Oriana’s Thoughts On The Recipe
This easy Creamy Sausage Pasta Skillet is everything a weeknight dinner should be: fast, flavorful, and made in just one pan! It’s rich, a little tangy, and packed with savory sausage and pasta coated in a velvety sauce. You’ll want to make this one over and over again!
What I Love About This Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Pasta: I used penne, but you can also use other short-tube pasta, such as ziti or rigatoni.
- Olive oil
- Veggies: Onion and garlic.
- Fresh sausage: I like using mild Italian sausage because it has a nice, subtle flavor.
- Tomatoes: You’ll need canned tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, oregano, and hot red pepper flakes (optional).
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Basil leaves and Parmesan cheese for serving
Food Allergy Swaps
- Dairy-Free: Heavy Cream: You can use a non-dairy cream, such as Silk , Country Crock Plant Cream, or Califia Farms. Butter: Instead of dairy butter, use vegan butter. There are many brands available in stores. I usually use Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks or Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Vegan Butter. Parmesan Cheese: Use your favorite dairy-free Parmesan-style cheese, I like Violife VIOlife Just Like Parmesan.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free short pasta. Check out my My Favorite Egg-Free Pasta Brands: Safe Options for Allergy-Friendly Meals post.
Process Overview: How to Make Creamy Sausage Pasta Step by Step
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
- Cook the Pasta
Bring the water to a boil, add the pasta, cook according to package directions, and drain.
- Make the Sausage Tomato Sauce
Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes. Add sausage roll; cook and crumble the sausage until no longer pink, about 5 – 8 minutes. Add in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and hot red pepper flakes (if using); mix to combine—season with salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for 2 minutes, then pour in the heavy cream and butter; stir to combine; cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Combine
Add the drained pasta into the sauce and toss to combine. Bring the sauce and pasta to a soft boil, stirring to coat the pasta with sauce. Sprinkle on the basil and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Other Meat. You can use ground beef, chicken, or turkey instead of sausage if preferred; however, the sausage will give it more flavor.
Spicy. You can also use hot Italian sausage (instead of mild) for more spice.
More Veggies. Feel free to include other veggies like zucchini or mushrooms.
Make lighter. Swap the heavy whipping cream with half and half to lighten the sauce.
Storing & Reheating Instructions
This pasta recipe is best enjoyed right away. However, you can store leftovers for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you have any! Reheat it on the stove over low heat. If you find that the sauce is thick and has dried up, add a little bit of water, broth, or milk to the dish as it heats. You can also warm the pasta, covered, in the microwave, occasionally stirring until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! I always like to add about 1 tablespoon of Kosher salt per pound of pasta to the water. It helps to flavor the pasta.
Absolutely!
Technically, you can use ground beef, chicken, or turkey instead of sausage if preferred; however, the sausage will give it more flavor.
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Recipe Card
Creamy Sausage Pasta Skillet
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 cup onion, chopped finely
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb (453 g) Fresh Italian Sausage Roll
- 16 oz ( 2 cans – 227 g each ) tomato sauce
- 14.5 oz ( 1 can – 411g ) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped for serving (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Important
You can find step-by-step photos above in the post and/or right here on the recipe card. They’ll walk you through the process and make everything super clear! Just click the camera icon button below on the right to show or hide them. Turn them off before printing if you prefer a cleaner copy!
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and reserve.
- Meanwhile, the pasta is cooking. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium. Sauté the onions and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes. Add sausage roll; cook and crumble the sausage until no longer pink, about 5 – 8 minutes.
- Add in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and hot red pepper flakes (if using); mix to combine—season with salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for 2 minutes, then pour in the heavy cream and butter; stir to combine; cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Add the drained pasta into the sauce and toss to combine. Bring the sauce and pasta to a soft boil, stirring to coat the pasta with sauce.
- Sprinkle on the basil and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve.
- Dairy-Free: Heavy Cream: You can use a non-dairy cream, such as Silk , Country Crock Plant Cream, or Califia Farms. Butter: Instead of dairy butter, use vegan butter. There are many brands available in stores. I usually use Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks or Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Vegan Butter. Parmesan Cheese: Use your favorite dairy-free Parmesan-style cheese, I like Violife VIOlife Just Like Parmesan.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free short pasta. Check out my My Favorite Egg-Free Pasta Brands: Safe Options for Allergy-Friendly Meals post.
- Other Meat. You can use ground beef, chicken, or turkey instead of sausage if preferred; however, the sausage will give it more flavor.
- Spicy. You can also use hot Italian sausage (instead of mild) for more spice.
- More Veggies. Feel free to include other veggies like zucchini or mushrooms.
- Make lighter. Swap the heavy whipping cream with half and half to lighten the sauce.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Recipe reviews on the website are extremely valuable to other readers online. So, please don’t forget to give it a 5-star rating below.Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
This recipe was originally published in April 2016. The recipe remains the same, but more notes, tips, photos, and information were added to the post in March 2023 to make it as helpful as possible!
I have made this recipe over and over and it was great ! I recently made this and some reason every time I add the heavy cream it doesn’t have any flavor the pasta is just bland. Not sure what I’m doing wrong I follow the instructions.
Hello Akina! I’m really glad you told me — especially since it’s worked well for you so many times before. When a cream sauce turns bland right after adding the cream, it’s usually because the sauce needs a good pinch of salt after the cream goes in (cream really mutes seasoning), or it hasn’t simmered quite long enough to concentrate the flavors. I’d suggest letting it gently simmer for a few extra minutes, then tasting and adjusting with salt and a little extra cheese if the recipe includes it — that usually brings everything back to life.
Wow! This recipe was a game changer for our house. So easy and packed with flavor. This has been added to our dinner rotation. The kids loved it as well!
Hello Marybeth! Yay! 🎉 I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a game changer for your family! It’s the best feeling when something easy and flavorful becomes a regular on the dinner table. And knowing the kids loved it too? That’s a huge win! 😊 Thank you for sharing your feedback, and happy cooking! 🍽️❤️✨
This recipe is INCREDIBLE-easy, adaptive, total comfort food. I make it for my boyfriend and me probably twice a month because we always have the ingredients on hand, and I’m making it for my parents when we visit them this weekend. I’ve used chicken or whatever other protein we have if we don’t have sausage and it works just as well. I like to add chopped spinach as well so I can pretend to be a little healthy. 😀
Hello Laura! This is one of our favorite dinners. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Mmmm….. the Spicy Cream Tomato Sauce caught my attention! And the Le Creuset 😉 I’m going to have to try this recipe soon <3
Thanks for your comment, JD!! This recipe makes a great weeknight dinner ☺
Wow this pasta looks delicious! It sounds easy too so I will be making this one soon! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks you, Sam, for stopping by!!!
Oriana, I am all about a quick, easy, comforting meal. 90% of the time I am in a mad rush about dinner time. This meal is perfect for me and my family. The pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! Would love a big bowl of your Penne right about now…. Can’t wait until I can make this!
So do I, Katie!! This penne dish is delicious and quick to make…Win-Win. Hope you give a try soon.
The spicy sauce must be the best> I love anything spicy. I like the addition of sausage. My whole family would like this dinner:)
You can make it as hot and spicy as you wish by adding more pepper flakes, Ilona!! Thanks for stopping by.
Mm, this pasta sounds sooo good! I love how quick and easy pasta recipes are, but I seriously need to mix it up a little. I’m adding sausage to my shopping list STAT! Also, that enamled pan you cooked the pasta in is stunning! Is it Le Creuset? The color is my fave!
Hi Willow – Yes, it is Le Creuset! That is my fave color too. Thanks for your comment =)
This looks amazing! Sadly I think I could finish off that pot right now 🙂
Hahaha, Ann! That pot could fed a small army. Hope you give try soon. Thanks for stopping by =)