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    Home ยป Pasta

    Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta

    Published: Aug 24, 2019 / Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 207 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This spicy Italian sausage pasta recipe is fast, easy, and uses minimal ingredients. It's the perfect weeknight dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant!

    spicy Italian sausage penne pasta with a fork in a white bowl

    This recipe was originally published on June 6, 2016. I've revised the recipe to make it even more delicious and easy to make. I've also added new photos.

    Italian sausage and pasta is a magical combo. This pasta recipe is ideal for those sausage and carb lovers out there (like me), naturally. Spicy Italian sausage, tomatoes, garlic, cream, lots of parmesan cheese, and a touch of fresh basil make this recipe a winner.

    I decided to redo this one when I was brainstorming recipes and realized I already had something similar on the blog to what I was envisioning. From over 3 years ago. That's the thing about food blogs... recipes get buried, especially ones where the photos are less than stellar. I am happy to have resurrected this recipe. New and improved!

    I re-photographed my Italian sausage tortellini soup recipe this year as well, and if you like this recipe, I think you will like that one as well. 

     

    Italian sausage penne close-up

    The sauce is creamy, but not too creamy if you know what I mean. It's tomato-y first and foremost. The cream helps mellow some of that acidity from the tomatoes and spice from the sausage. I am not a huge spice person, and I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. It has just enough zing in my opinion.

    Penne goes really well with this spicy Italian sausage pasta recipe. The little tubes are perfect for that sauce. You can use any shape you want, though. 

    Pro tip: Want to make this pasta more spicy? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes. On the flip side, if you don't want it to be spicy, just use mild Italian sausages. ๐Ÿ™‚

    close-up of spicy Italian sausage pasta sauce with penne

    Other pastas with sausage you may like:

    • Tuscan Sausage Pasta
    • Cajun Sausage Pasta
    • Simple Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
    • Easy Sausage Rigatoni
    • Healthy Chicken Sausage Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

    spicy Italian sausage and pasta in two white bowls

    Hope you'll love this hot Italian sausage pasta recipe!

    Questions? Let me know in the comments below.

    Italian sausage penne close-up

    Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta

    This spicy Italian sausage pasta is fast, easy, and uses minimal ingredients. It's the perfect weeknight dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant!
    4.9 from 69 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 598 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 ounces uncooked penne
    • 10.6 ounces hot Italian sausages crumbled (see note)
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine
    • 1/2 tablespoon flour
    • 1 (14 fluid ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
    • 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • 6 large leaves basil sliced/torn into small pieces
    • Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions.
    • Take the sausage meat out of the casings and crumble it into a deep skillet. Cook it for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat until browned.
    • Once the sausage is browned, take it out of the pan and set it aside. Drain the fat.
    • Add the garlic, followed by the chicken broth to the skillet. Sprinkle the flour in. Whisk it until the flour has dissolved, and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook this mixture until it's significantly reduced (should only take a minute or two in total).
    • Add in the tomatoes, cream, and the sausage meat. Cook the sauce for a few more minutes until it's thickened to your liking. Season with salt & pepper as needed.
    • Just prior to serving, add in the torn basil leaves and then toss with the drained pasta. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    • I used 3 sausages from a 5-pack of Johnsonville hot Italian sausages. Anything in the 10.6 oz ballpark will work, or you can even use more sausage meat if you wish. You can use mild Italian sausages if you prefer.
    • I don't recommend substituting the heavy cream because the acidity in the tomatoes will likely curdle half-and-half or milk.
    • If you don't have any basil, feel free to leave it out, but I really like the fresh flavor it adds.
    • I used my handy Microplane zester/grater to grate the parmesan.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 598kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 20gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 814mgPotassium: 558mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 580IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword spicy Italian sausage pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Broccoli Ramen Salad
    Creamy Honey Mustard Chicken »

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    1. Wynne says

      April 19, 2022 at 8:55 PM

      5 stars
      Absolutely amazing!! First time making it and will absolutely be making it again.
      Only issue was the sauce wouldn't thicken so I had to add more flour but that wasn't a concern, that's cooking right! . I added a bunch of different seasonings as well.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 19, 2022 at 10:13 PM

        That's great to hear that you enjoyed it, Wynne! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    2. Jane says

      April 19, 2022 at 8:31 AM

      4 stars
      Sauce was a bit too thin - had to do a last minute thickening with corn starch. The flavors were excellent.

      Reply
    3. T Villar says

      April 15, 2022 at 7:38 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe is FANTASTIC! Simple, but flavorful! Yes, it tastes like it should be served in a restaurant! Delicious enough to serve for company! My family loves it and requests it by name!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 15, 2022 at 8:21 PM

        I'm so glad you guys all enjoy it! ๐Ÿ˜€ Thanks for your review!

        Reply
    4. Susan Cheek says

      March 5, 2022 at 5:58 PM

      This was an easy and very delicious recipe. I will definitely be making this often!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 5, 2022 at 6:03 PM

        That's great to hear, Susan! Appreciate your comment. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Linda says

      February 27, 2022 at 6:48 PM

      5 stars
      Delicious! New family favorite. Even my picky eater, son in law, loved it and had 2 big helpings!!! Will definitely make again. I added a little cream cheese to punch up the creaminess and used mild sausage. Huge success!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 27, 2022 at 7:01 PM

        That's so nice to hear!! Thanks for letting me know, Linda! ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    6. Beth says

      February 2, 2022 at 8:16 PM

      Yummy recipe! My 12 year old girl went back for a heaping 2nd plate! I was last minute of course, so sadly no cream on hand. I did sub it despite your warning with greek yogurt and glad to report no curdling! Thanks for the easy dish!

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        February 2, 2022 at 9:40 PM

        Glad it worked out, Beth! So glad your daughter liked it ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. karyn says

      January 15, 2022 at 7:46 AM

      5 stars
      Husband actually texted while I was at work today to tell me how much he liked it. I did use cream cheese and it was so creamy. Loved it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 15, 2022 at 9:51 AM

        That's awesome!! ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    8. Heidi says

      January 8, 2022 at 3:16 PM

      5 stars
      Loved the recipe, very easy to make and tasty. It was a little to spicy for my husband and myself. Will make it again, but will use mild Italian sausage.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 8, 2022 at 3:49 PM

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! ๐Ÿ™‚ It'll be just as yummy with mild sausage next time.

        Reply
    9. Kiley says

      January 5, 2022 at 2:22 PM

      Going to try this tonight but Iโ€™m out of heavy whipping cream so Iโ€™m going to try cream cheese instead. Canโ€™t wait!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 5, 2022 at 2:54 PM

        Hope you enjoy it, Kiley! Let me know how it goes with the cream cheese.

        Reply
    10. Lauren says

      January 3, 2022 at 9:23 PM

      Soooo good!!!! I saluted red pepper and mushrooms and added it as well.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 4, 2022 at 10:23 AM

        ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    11. Anonymous says

      November 13, 2021 at 10:15 AM

      SOOO YUMMY defiantly recommend it

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 13, 2021 at 10:20 AM

        Thanks!!

        Reply
    12. Ms Rang says

      November 8, 2021 at 7:53 AM

      My favorite pasta recipe:) always a hit whenever i make it. Thank you for sharing the lovely recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 8, 2021 at 9:06 AM

        Excellent!! I'm so happy to hear that. You're very welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    13. Saffron says

      October 25, 2021 at 2:32 AM

      5 stars
      I used normal sausages and added chilli flakes. Very easy tasty dish. Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 25, 2021 at 9:13 AM

        Fantastic!! You're very welcome! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    14. Michelle says

      October 22, 2021 at 3:55 AM

      5 stars
      I used smoked garlic and chilli sausages - superb! Canโ€™t recommend this recipe enough

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 22, 2021 at 9:50 AM

        Fantastic!! That sounds amazing!!

        Reply
    15. Rachael says

      October 20, 2021 at 5:24 PM

      Can I sub tomato paste and or a ragu sauce if I donโ€™t have the diced tomatoes??

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 20, 2021 at 9:27 PM

        You could try, but tomato paste is much thicker, so you may need to tweak other ingredients. Canned tomato sauce will work. As far as a pre-made ragu sauce... I guess that would work in a pinch, but it already has its own flavors and such.

        Reply
    16. Sandra says

      October 18, 2021 at 4:52 PM

      5 stars
      This was sooo good and easy to make! I used orrichete and blended the diced tomato. Itโ€™s definitely a keeper. The whole family loved it.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 18, 2021 at 6:09 PM

        Thank you!! I'm so glad to hear that! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    17. Kimberly Casey says

      October 5, 2021 at 10:08 PM

      5 stars
      I added frozen green peas to brighten up the dish. Their sweetness was a perfect complement to the spicy sausage. This dish looks and tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜Š

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 6, 2021 at 9:16 AM

        Fabulous!! I'm so happy you liked it, Kimberly! ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    18. SQ Linn says

      October 5, 2021 at 7:10 AM

      5 stars
      This was great. Started with a search for a recipe with the ingredients I had on hand. I did use half and half with no curdling or separation. I added mushrooms sautรฉed in brown butter because they needed to be used before going bad. Fresh basil from the garden was a great addition. Will definitely make again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 5, 2021 at 9:45 AM

        I'm so pleased that you enjoyed it!! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    19. Dawn says

      October 1, 2021 at 12:23 PM

      Hi there! This recipe looks amazing! What kind of white wine do you recommend? We love to drink chardonnay and Savion Blanc. Also how can I use the Mild Italian sausage to make it as spicy as the Spicy. (Our grocery store in our little town only carries Spicy that you have to peel the skin)

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 1, 2021 at 12:25 PM

        Hello! Sauv blanc or chardonnay would work just fine! Anything dry and that you like the taste of, really. ๐Ÿ™‚ I'd add in some crushed red pepper flakes to make it spicy or a couple dashes of cayenne pepper. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    20. Christina Garrigan says

      September 20, 2021 at 7:38 AM

      Could this be made ahead of time and then put into a casserole dish to reheat later in the day for dinner?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 20, 2021 at 10:01 AM

        You could, but pasta tends to soak up sauce and gets a bit of a weird texture that's not as good as when it's freshly made. I'd probably boil the pasta just before serving if possible. If you can't do that, perhaps cook the pasta and store is separately from the sauce then add them together to warm them up before serving.

        Reply
    21. Sherri says

      September 9, 2021 at 7:28 PM

      5 stars
      This was a really good pasta dish. I had left over hot Italian sausage and needed to use it up. It was quick and delicious! I usually cook my sauce for hours but this was probably the fastest tomato sauce I've ever made, yet it didn't lack flavor. I added a few extras like onion and yellow pepper with the sausage, just because I needed to use ingredients before they went bad. Hate waste.

      And yes, using whole milk will curdle the sauce a bit initially, but it's all I had on hand. After it cooked a bit, it all came together and was still delicious.

      Definitely will make this again. The mister also enjoyed it. Glad I found your recipe. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 9, 2021 at 7:31 PM

        I'm glad you enjoyed it!! ๐Ÿ™‚ You're very welcome, Sherri!

        Reply
    22. Lu says

      August 29, 2021 at 11:32 AM

      5 stars
      Restaurant flavours for a surprisingly easy recipe! The smell was amazing when I was cooking the garlic and white wine. I used pinot grigio and it worked really well, including the glass I enjoyed with the meal! I used Italian sausages from Marks & Spencer for any UK folks without an Italian deli to hand.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 29, 2021 at 3:16 PM

        I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for the tips. I love visiting the UK and always make a stop at M&S myself haha.

        Reply
    23. Kaden says

      August 25, 2021 at 2:19 PM

      Natasha,

      Which wine varietals pair well w/ this dish?
      Made it before and just love it!

      Thanks,

      Kaden

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 25, 2021 at 6:52 PM

        Hi! I'm glad you enjoy this recipe!! For a red, try a pinot noir, for white try a sauvignon blanc but as it's summertime, a rosรฉ would pair well too.

        Reply
    24. Hank says

      August 3, 2021 at 7:02 PM

      4 stars
      Really delicious flavors! I followed the recipe closely and my sauce ended up quite watery. Will make again thinking I will add more flour or use more of a tomato puree, but would love any tips!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 4, 2021 at 7:53 AM

        Hi Hank! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, the way the recipe is written is not meant to yield a super thick sauce. Yes, you could certainly add a bit more flour (or make a roux) or use pureed/crushed tomatoes - they would add some thickness for sure as you indicate. I would probably try the tomatoes route first.

        Reply
    25. Allysa says

      July 17, 2021 at 9:03 PM

      5 stars
      This recipe was so good. Will for sure be making this again!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        July 17, 2021 at 9:08 PM

        Fantastic!! Thanks for leaving me a review!

        Reply
    26. Lynda says

      June 30, 2021 at 6:10 AM

      5 stars
      Truly delicious.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 30, 2021 at 8:49 AM

        Thank you so much, Lynda!

        Reply
    27. Diane says

      May 19, 2021 at 8:23 AM

      Is vegetable broth ok to use?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 19, 2021 at 8:24 AM

        Sure! Enjoy. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    28. Alexus says

      May 17, 2021 at 5:19 PM

      5 stars
      Mannn my picky eater bf loved it

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 17, 2021 at 7:00 PM

        Fantastic!!

        Reply
        • Petra says

          May 19, 2021 at 5:12 PM

          5 stars
          My son is a picky eater.... he loved it!!! And so did Iโค๏ธ

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            May 19, 2021 at 9:38 PM

            Fantastic!!

            Reply
    29. Jason G says

      May 11, 2021 at 6:14 PM

      5 stars
      This tastes fantastic! However mine turned out to have a pink sauce rather than red? Maybe my tomatoes had too much juice? When it comes down to it it tasted delicious so Iโ€™ll be making it again

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 11, 2021 at 7:08 PM

        I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, that's definitely a possibility. The sauce does have a bit of a pinkish tint if I recall, so it's all good. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    30. Dana says

      April 11, 2021 at 4:03 PM

      5 stars
      I like this pasta dish and it is so easy to make for a weeknight treat or Sunday dinner. Just enough spice. This one is on repeat.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 11, 2021 at 5:13 PM

        Fantastic!! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    31. Maria says

      April 11, 2021 at 9:12 AM

      5 stars
      Another winner! Delicious and quick...perfect anytime.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 11, 2021 at 10:10 AM

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    32. Claire Dawson says

      March 29, 2021 at 1:51 PM

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe, I used British pork sausages instead. All the other ingredients I had! The cayenne pepper makes the dish. 10/10

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 29, 2021 at 3:25 PM

        Fantastic!! So pleased you liked it, Claire!

        Reply
    33. Dee says

      March 22, 2021 at 5:42 PM

      5 stars
      Better make extra!!! ๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜‹ and easy. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 22, 2021 at 8:38 PM

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    34. Maria says

      March 22, 2021 at 5:37 PM

      5 stars
      Easy and delicious! Itโ€™s in regular circulation in our home.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 22, 2021 at 8:42 PM

        Fantastic!!

        Reply
    35. Lisa M says

      March 2, 2021 at 3:34 PM

      5 stars
      Wonderful recipe! I added 1/3 cup diced bell pepper to cook with the meat mixture, plus 1/2 cup sliced fresh portobello mushrooms to the flour/tomato mixture.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        March 2, 2021 at 5:31 PM

        Thank you!! so glad you liked it.

        Reply
    36. Karen says

      February 23, 2021 at 5:39 PM

      5 stars
      Tried this tonight for a quick, something different dish! It was super easy and delicious! I did add a little sugar and parsley! Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 23, 2021 at 7:15 PM

        You're welcome!! So happy you liked it! ๐Ÿ˜€

        Reply
    37. Rachel Kline says

      February 16, 2021 at 7:50 PM

      Love this. I did not have sausage meat on hand so I used a smoked beef sausage, sliced about 3mm thick. Worked great, and the flavours blended well. I love this website. Thank you for posting great tasting recipes that use everyday ingredients.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 17, 2021 at 9:33 AM

        Fantastic!! You're so sweet. I'm glad you're finding the recipes useful!

        Reply
    38. Rashell De Leon says

      February 15, 2021 at 5:13 PM

      What can I use to substitute the wine or chicken broth? Can I leave it out?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 15, 2021 at 5:40 PM

        I'd probably leave it out, yes.

        Reply
    39. Marga says

      January 28, 2021 at 10:29 PM

      5 stars
      This is really one of my favorite pastas dishes ever! i use the Johnsonville sweet italian sausage and added some chilli to add more spice ๐Ÿ™‚ This is melt in your mouth kind of pasta dish and will keep on making it!! Thanks Natasha!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 29, 2021 at 11:50 AM

        Aww fabulous!! Thank you!! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    40. Briton says

      January 21, 2021 at 3:46 PM

      I donโ€™t have cream in the house but I have a nice fresh pack of ricotta cheese. Think that would be nice or does it need to be cream?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 21, 2021 at 3:54 PM

        Hmmm... I don't cook with ricotta often, but I think it could taste good. It may not be as pretty/smooth of a sauce as cream, though.

        Reply
    41. Mike says

      January 20, 2021 at 5:17 PM

      5 stars
      1st time I made the recipe as called for, 2nd time I used boiled sausages then thinly sliced, 3rd time I added canned sliced mushrooms. This is one robust recipe. No matter what I added the results were excellent. Canโ€™t wait for the next addition

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 21, 2021 at 9:30 AM

        That's great!! I'm so glad you're tweaking it to make it a little different each time. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    42. Ann says

      January 12, 2021 at 3:39 PM

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorites!! Salt and Lavender recipes never fail they are always super quick and delish! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 12, 2021 at 4:09 PM

        Aww thank you!! ๐Ÿ™‚ So happy you're enjoying my recipes, Ann.

        Reply
    43. Lauren says

      January 6, 2021 at 5:11 AM

      I have made this a few times but with with wine instead of chicken broth. Does it make a lot of difference with the flavor? I usually like to add wine to my pasta sauce because I feel like it gives it a little extra flavor but Iโ€™m doing dry January so I donโ€™t have any in the house.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 6, 2021 at 11:14 AM

        I'm definitely partial towards wine myself, but I do suggest chicken broth for many of my recipes since it seems more accessible to readers. I think this recipe is delicious without the wine, but you could do a little trick I do when I don't have any white wine... add in a bit of Dijon mustard too. The chicken broth + Dijon mustard combo sorta mimics the taste of white wine (start with 1/2 teaspoon or so).

        Reply
      • Paul from Long Island says

        February 27, 2021 at 11:10 AM

        5 stars
        You could try Verjus, or another alcohol free wine, or even mirin cut with some water unless you like the sweetness.

        Reply
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