Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Name: Italian Sausage Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces rigatoni pasta; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 1 yellow onion (diced); 1 pound Italian sausage (casing removed); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon calabrian chili paste (optional); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes (drained); ⅓ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk; Salt and black pepper to taste; Fresh basil (for serving); Grated parmesan cheese (for serving)

This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is an easy but decadent pasta dish you'll make again and again. Done in just 40 minutes, this al dente pasta covered in a spicy creamy meat sauce will be a new family favorite!

Jump to Recipe

Sausage past sauce over rigatoni in a white bowl.

I'm a bit biased but nothing says comfort meal like a creamy pasta dish. This Italian sausage and pasta recipe is prepared and cooked in just 45 minutes and is one of my favorite recipes to make on those busy weeknights.

This Italian sausage pasta recipe will taste like you've cooked it all day! Creamy pasta sauce with flavorful Italian sausage is a surefire way to take any pasta dish to the next level. This recipe combines incredible flavors and hearty pasta to create a dish the whole family will love.

If you like pasta as much as I do, you have to try some more of my favorites like my No-Boil Pasta Bake, Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta, or my all-time favorite Spicy Rigatoni with Ground Pork.

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Simple Ingredients. This easy sausage pasta is made with simple and easy-to-find ingredients. You may already have some at home!
Easily Modified. You can easily tailor this recipe to your desired taste or dietary needs.
Creamy Sauce. This is the perfect creamy tomato sauce that doesn't overpower the whole dish.

🥘Ingredients

Rigatoni Pasta. Rigatoni works great with tomato and cream-based sauces.
Italian Sausage. You can use either spicy or mild Italian sausage. I usually opt for turkey sausage but pork is also great.
Garlic Cloves. Always use fresh garlic cloves over garlic powder.
Calabrian Chili Paste. This chili paste is from the Calabria region of southern Italy and is known for its smoky and fruity flavor. It can be used in a variety of dishes from pasta to marinades to soups. Try them in shrimp with vodka sauce next!
Tomato Paste. I like to buy the tubes because they last longer in the fridge. If you buy canned tomato paste, you can transfer leftovers to a different container for storage.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

📖Substitutions & Variations

Rigatoni. Use your favorite kind of pasta with this dish like penne pasta, bow tie pasta or a gluten-free option.
Italian Sausage. Opt for turkey sausage, mild sausage or spicy pork sausage.
Calabrian Chili. You can use red pepper flakes or omit the spice altogether.
Coconut Milk. Use heavy cream if you prefer it, but coconut milk is a lighter option and great for dairy-free diets.
Parmesan cheese. Opt for your favorite hard-grated cheese like asiago or pecorino romano.

🔪Instructions

Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta al dente according to package instructions.

Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent.

Step 2: Add the sausage to the pan and crumble and cook for about 5 minutes until browned.

Italian sausage in a pan with onion and tomato paste.

Step 3: Add in the garlic, chili paste, and tomato paste, and stir for 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Pour the can of diced tomatoes into the sausage mixture, turn to low heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Pour in the coconut milk or cream, stir and cook for another 2 minutes.

Step 6: Turn the heat off and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!

💭Recipe FAQs

Can I make creamy Italian sausage pasta ahead of time?

You can definitely make this dish ahead of time. If you need a jumpstart on dinner earlier in the day, make the sauce and just cook the pasta later on. You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I recommend making the pasta day of serving.

Can I cook the sausage from frozen?

The short answer is yes if it's beef or pork. You should never cook poultry like chicken sausage or turkey sausage from frozen though. Beef or pork sausage can easily be defrosted before use in a bowl of warm water or even the microwave.

Can I use uncased sausage?

Yes! This recipe calls for the casing to be removed so already uncased sausage will make this recipe even easier. Any type of sausage meat will go great in this recipe.

Italian sausage pasta in a white bowl next to a wedge of parmesan cheese.

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Tips

Add a vegetable. Add in some green peas or fresh spinach to this already hearty dish.
Change up the spice level by adding more Calabrian chili paste or even top the pasta with red pepper flakes.
Cook your pasta al dente. You always want tender pasta and don't want to deal with pasta falling apart in the bowl!
Reserve some pasta water to thin out your sauce if needed.

🥗Serving

I love serving all my pasta dishes with a warm baguette or dinner rolls. This easy pasta dish pairs well with a dry white wine or a robust Italian red wine.

Serve Italian sausage pasta with a topping of fresh basil, freshly grated parmesan and some extra red pepper flakes!

For a complete meal add a Caesar Salad on the side.

🥣Storage & Reheating

Store this creamy Italian sausage sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. If making a large batch, place it in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can store already-made pasta in the fridge for 3-5 days but I recommend making it fresh each time.