Description
Creamy Parmesan Pasta with Garlic Butter Sausage Bites is an easy and comforting weeknight dinner made with crispy, garlicky sausage and rich, cheesy pasta. This 30-minute recipe is packed with flavor and feels like a restaurant-quality meal you can make at home with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
For the sausage bites:
- Smoked or Italian sausage, sliced into bite-sized rounds
- Unsalted butter
- Garlic, minced
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
For the creamy parmesan pasta:
- Pasta of choice (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni work well)
- Unsalted butter
- Garlic, minced
- All-purpose flour
- Milk or half-and-half
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
-
Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside (reserve a bit of pasta water).
-
Sauté: In a skillet, melt butter and cook sausage slices until golden and crispy. Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute. Remove sausage and set aside.
-
Make parmesan sauce: In the same skillet, melt more butter and sauté garlic. Whisk in flour to form a roux, then gradually pour in milk, whisking until smooth. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly.
-
Finish the sauce: Stir in grated parmesan until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Combine and serve: Toss cooked pasta with the creamy sauce, adding reserved pasta water if needed. Top with garlic butter sausage bites and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot.
Notes
-
Use turkey or chicken sausage for a lighter version.
-
Stir in spinach or sun-dried tomatoes for added nutrition and flavor.
-
For a gluten-free option, use GF pasta and thicken the sauce with cornstarch instead of flour.
-
Add sautéed mushrooms for a savory upgrade.
