Here’s a creamy sausage penne pasta recipe that matches the dish in your photo 🍝
Rich, comforting, and very easy to make.
Creamy Sausage Penne Pasta
🧄 Ingredients (serves 3–4)
- 400 g (14 oz) penne pasta
- 250–300 g smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 cup cooking cream or heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika or chili flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley or basil
- ¼ cup pasta cooking water (as needed)
🍳 Instructions
- Cook the pasta
Boil penne in salted water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain. - Brown the sausage
Heat olive oil or butter in a large pan over medium heat.
Add sausage slices and cook until golden and slightly crispy. Remove and set aside. - Make the sauce
In the same pan, sauté onion (if using) for 2–3 minutes until soft.
Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. - Add cream & cheese
Pour in the cream, reduce heat to low, and stir.
Add Parmesan, black pepper, paprika/chili flakes, and salt. Simmer gently. - Combine everything
Add cooked pasta and sausage back into the pan.
Toss well, adding a little pasta water if needed for a silky sauce. - Finish & serve
Sprinkle with fresh parsley or basil. Serve hot with extra Parmesan on top.
⭐ Tips & Variations
- Add mushrooms or spinach for extra flavor
- Use chicken sausage for a lighter version
- Swap cream with cream cheese + milk for extra richness
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the creaminess
If you want, I can also give you:
- a one-pan version
- a baked pasta version
- or air-fryer sausage + pasta sauce combo