Description
Creamy Smoked Sausage Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish combining tender rotini pasta with browned smoked sausage in a rich, cheesy garlic sauce. This comforting meal features a velvety blend of half and half, chicken stock, and melted cheddar cheese, enhanced with a touch of oregano and fresh diced tomatoes. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 oz rotini pasta
Sausage
- 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 4 to 7 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups half and half
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice)
- 15 oz diced tomatoes, drained
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to keep warm.
- Brown Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, add sliced smoked sausage and cook until browned and lightly crisped, about 5-7 minutes. Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the salted butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn it.
- Make Roux: Stir in flour to the melted butter and garlic, cooking for 1-2 minutes while stirring constantly to form a smooth roux and cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add Liquids: Slowly whisk in the half and half and chicken stock, stirring constantly to ensure a smooth sauce without lumps.
- Season and Thicken: Add salt, pepper, and oregano. Allow the sauce to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Tomatoes: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and drained diced tomatoes. Cook until the cheese fully melts and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
- Combine Everything: Return the browned smoked sausage and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything thoroughly to coat the pasta and sausage evenly with the creamy sauce and heat through.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle shredded Parmesan cheese over the top before serving for an extra layer of flavor and garnish.
Notes
- You can use any type of smoked sausage according to your preference, such as kielbasa or Andouille sausage.
- The amount of garlic can be adjusted based on your taste for a milder or stronger flavor.
- For a thicker sauce, reduce the chicken stock slightly or cook the sauce a bit longer to reduce.
- To lighten the recipe, you can substitute half and half with whole milk, but the sauce will be less creamy.
- This dish pairs well with a side of steamed vegetables or a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
