Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Creamy Italian sausage pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a comforting, better-than-takeout dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it creamy and preventing a broken sauce. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Meatballs in Creamy Dijon Gravy Recipe and Fudgy Cherry Chocolate Brownies Recipe for Easy Dessert.
Why This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Is Pure Comfort
- Quick and easy weeknight dinner
- Better than takeout taste
- Creamy, rich, and comforting
- Packed with flavor from sun-dried tomatoes
What You'll Need for Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Italian sausage
- Pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Garlic
- Onion
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Italian sausage: Use mild or spicy, depending on your preference.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Use oil-packed for extra flavor.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Smooths the sauce right in the pan, no mess. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Step 1: Cook sausage in a large skillet until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add onion and garlic to the skillet, cook until softened. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
- Step 4: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water.
- Step 5: Return sausage to the skillet, stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent a broken sauce, don't let it boil too hard. If it starts to break, turn off the heat and stir in a little cold cream or pasta water.
- Pro tip: For an extra kick, add some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Pro tip: To make this dish even heartier, add some spinach or mushrooms to the skillet with the onions.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The sauce may thicken, so add a little pasta water if needed.
Freezing Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the Italian sausage.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and cook just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water to thin it out.
Want to level up this recipe?
Pasta Pot with Strainer — Makes draining pasta a breeze and saves time. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Italian sausage
- Pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Heavy cream
- Garlic
- Onion
Seasonings
- Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Black pepper
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook sausage in a large skillet until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add onion and garlic to the skillet, cook until softened. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
- Step 4: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water.
- Step 5: Return sausage to the skillet, stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the Italian sausage.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and cook just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water to thin it out.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The sauce may thicken, so add a little pasta water if needed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 40g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 20g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes FAQs
Yes, prepare the ingredients ahead of time and cook just before serving. The sauce may thicken, so add a little pasta water if needed.
The sauce may break if it's boiled too hard or if the cream is added too quickly. To fix, turn off the heat and stir in a little cold cream or pasta water.
Yes, freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
No, this recipe is best cooked on the stovetop.
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the Italian sausage.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
