Description
Succulent garlic butter sausage bites dance alongside crispy parmesan-coated pasta in this irresistible Italian-inspired comfort dish. Quick weeknight magic emerges when savory sausage meets buttery garlic, promising delicious satisfaction for hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) sausage (Italian sausage or preferred type, casing removed, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
Dairy and Fats:
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Pasta:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
Instructions
- Sear sausage pieces in olive oil over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, rotating occasionally until golden and crisp on all surfaces. Transfer cooked sausage to a separate plate.
- In the identical skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for 1-2 minutes until aromatic. Incorporate red pepper flakes for additional heat if preferred.
- Reintroduce sausage to the skillet, thoroughly coating with garlic butter mixture. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, ensuring uniform heating and flavor absorption.
- Boil salted water in a large pot and cook pasta at medium-high temperature for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain pasta, preserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
- Create cream sauce by melting butter in a saucepan. Pour chicken broth, bringing to a gentle simmer. Whisk in heavy cream and garlic powder, cooking for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Gradually blend Parmesan cheese into the sauce until completely smooth. Season with salt and black pepper according to taste preferences.
- Fold cooked pasta into creamy sauce, ensuring complete coverage. Adjust sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water if necessary. Warm through for additional 1-2 minutes.
- Plate pasta, topping with garlic butter sausage bites. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese for enhanced presentation.
Notes
- Perfectly crisp sausage requires high-medium heat and occasional stirring to ensure even browning without burning.
- Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to create silky, smooth sauce consistency when needed.
- Choose spicy Italian sausage for extra flavor kick or swap with mild version for less heat-sensitive palates.
- Make gluten-free by using alternative pasta like chickpea or zucchini noodles and checking sausage ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 639 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 567 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg