This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This delicious Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta is the 30-minute meal you’ve been waiting for! It’s full of Italian porky goodness and coated with a super flavorful simple sauce composed of jarred roasted red peppers, heavy cream, and fresh basil pureed right together. It’s rich, creamy, comes together quickly, and is incredibly tasty!
Easy Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta Recipe
Let’s talk about 30-minute pasta recipes! I’m a fan! The best part about them is that you don’t always need to spend hours in the kitchen slaving over the hot stove to make the perfect Beef Ragu. Don’t get me wrong, I love tomato sauce with braised meat! But I also love quick and easy pasta recipes like my Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta and Pasta Puttanesca which don’t require that kind of effort!
And this Red Pepper Sausage Pasta recipe fits right into that category. It’s a dish that doesn’t require much time or effort. In fact, you don’t even have to cook the sauce. It’s brilliant actually. The sauce is just pureed together in a blender and then tossed together with the pasta, meat, and cheese to heat it up and meld the flavors. The process is simple with very little prep time and creates unbelievably good layered flavor in just a matter of minutes.
Not to mention, this recipe is fairly versatile too. The sausage can be switched out with any protein and any veggies you like can also be added. You can be as creative as you want! So grab a few jars of roasted red peppers and heavy cream the next time you are at the market and give this yummy pasta recipe a try!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta
- Simple Recipe! This is a quick and easy 30-minute recipe that requires no fancy ingredients or special skills. You don’t even have to cook the sauce ahead of time.
- Red Pepper Sauce! Blend together some roasted red peppers, heavy cream, and a bit of fresh basil and you’ve got a heavenly red pepper pasta sauce!
- Party Perfect! This recipe is a great option when feeding a lot of people. It’s more than simple spaghetti but actually easier to make which means more impressive but less work for you.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pasta – I used penne, but medium shells are another good choice. However, overall you can use any bite-size pasta you like. You can also use gluten-free pasta if you prefer.
- Roasted Red Peppers – You’ll find them in a jar or can in the grocery store. They are the core flavor of the sauce.
- Chicken Broth – I always opt to use low-sodium broth to avoid over-salting.
- Heavy Cream – Also called whipping cream, it adds richness and makes the roasted red pepper sauce creamy.
- Fresh Basil – Blended together with the red peppers it gives the dish a lovely Italian herby flavor that elevates the pasta.
- Olive Oil – Ideally, you want to use a decent Italian extra virgin olive oil for most flavor.
- Italian Sausage – Italian pork sausage gives the roasted red pepper pasta sauce its meatiness and adds lots of yummy savory goodness. However, you can also use turkey sausage or chicken sausage if you prefer.
- Shallot – Milder than onions, they have a refined taste to them. But you can use onion in place of the shallot if needed.
- Garlic – Always use fresh garlic. Store-bought minced garlic is just not the same and can sometimes have an odd taste.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor of the dish by seasoning all the ingredients.
- Parmesan Cheese – Adds a lovely salty cheesy taste. And the better quality grated Parmesan cheese will create a more delicious pasta.
This recipe could not be easier! Once you cook the pasta and use a blender to puree some already roasted red peppers together with a bit of cream your work is nearly done!
Cook The Pasta
To start, you need to get your pasta cooking! So bring a big large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions to al dente. The most important part of cooking the pasta is salting the water really well and not overcooking it. Then once it’s done, drain the pasta and set it aside for later.
Make The Sauce
While the pasta is cooking, it’s time to whip together the sauce! Add the roasted red peppers, chicken broth, heavy cream, and fresh basil to a blender, and then puree everything together until smooth. If you don’t own a blender you can also use a food processor or immersion blender for this step.
Cook The Sausage
Before you begin cooking the sausage you need to remove it from the casing. Then heat the olive over medium heat in a large skillet. Next, add the sausage to the pan and brown it as you break it up using a wooden spoon. Essentially you want it to look like cooked chunks of crumbled ground meat. Now, add the shallot and garlic to the pan. Then add the onion and garlic and saute everything together for about 3 minutes until the onion is soft. Finally, season the mixture with a bit of salt to bring out the flavors.
Finish The Dish
Now let’s put it all together! First, add the roasted red pepper sauce to the sausage mixture in the skillet and stir to combine. Then bring it to a simmer over medium-low heat. Next, add the drained pasta along with the grated Parmesan cheese and cook everything together for 2 minutes while stirring constantly.
Garnish And Serve
When the red pepper sausage pasta is done remove it from the heat and top it with some more Parmesan cheese and fresh basil to garnish. Then serve it with some yummy Garlic Bread if you like.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead Of Time?
Yes and no. You can make the sauce and brown the sausage ahead of time. But I don’t recommend cooking the pasta until right before you plan on putting the dish together to serve. As pasta sits it absorbs the sauce which changes the texture.
What Does It Mean To Cook Pasta Al Dente?
Pasta is best when cooked “al dente”, which means it’s tender but still firm to the bite. I always suggest checking the doneness of the pasta about 2 minutes before the package directions indicate.
Expert Tips
- Salt your pasta water. Salt your pasta water with at least a big tablespoon of salt to season the penne. The water should taste salty like the sea.
- Use quality ingredients. Simple pasta dishes are easy to make, but the layered flavors are based on quality ingredients. So for the best results use better quality ingredients.
- Make it spicy. This red pepper Italian sausage pasta is fantastic with some red pepper flakes added to the sauce or sprinkled on top right before serving. Or use spicy Italian sausage.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. However, I don’t suggest storing it in the freezer. To reheat, simply add a few tablespoons of water to add some moisture, then cover it, and put it in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium. You can also reheat it on the stove in a pan if you prefer.
Other Delicious Recipes To Try
- Mushroom Pasta
- One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
- One Pot Sausage Pasta
- Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
- One Pot Pasta
- Slow Cooker Sausage And Peppers
Creamy Red Pepper Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or medium shells
- 2 cups roasted red peppers (16 ounce jar), drained
- ½ cup chicken broth low sodium
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ pound Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 medium shallot chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, add the roasted red peppers, chicken broth, heavy cream, and basil to a blender and blend until smooth.
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage to the skillet and brown, braking it down with a wooden spoon.
- Add chopped shallot and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes or until the onion is tender. Season with salt.
- Stir in the roasted red pepper sauce and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the drained pasta and Parmesan cheese and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and serve with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Tips & Notes:
- Salt your pasta water. Salt your pasta water with at least a big tablespoon of salt to season the penne. The water should taste salty like the sea.
- Use quality ingredients. Simple pasta dishes are easy to make, but the layered flavors are based on quality ingredients. So for the best results use better quality ingredients.
- Make it spicy. This red pepper Italian sausage pasta is fantastic with some red pepper flakes added to the sauce or sprinkled on top right before serving. Or use spicy Italian sausage.
- Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. However, I don’t suggest storing it in the freezer. To reheat, simply add a few tablespoons of water to add some moisture, then cover it, and put it in the microwave for about 3 minutes on medium. You can also reheat it on the stove in a pan if you prefer.
