Spice up your dinner routine with this Spicy Sausage Pasta recipe! This dish is full of flavor with rigatoni pasta, fiery spicy Italian sausage and hot Calabrian chili peppers. With a bold kick and a ton of flavor, this is going to be one of your new favorites!
About the Recipe
Whether you're in the mood for a comforting weeknight dinner or want to impress guests with a crowd pleasing dish, this spicy sausage pasta will not disappoint. It's the perfect balance of heat and flavor with the combination of that robust spicy sausage, zesty chili peppers and just a touch of cream to balance it all out.
The incredible flavors of this dish will make your whole family happy. After you make this pasta for the first time, it will become one of your absolute favorite dinners! I tested this recipe out with friends and it got rave reviews.
If you are looking for more pasta dishes, check out our: Pesto Gnocchi, Creamy Chicken Orzo or Easy Pasta al Forno.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Versatile - This recipe allows for flexibility in ingredients, allowing you to add your favorite veggies or adapt the protein to suit your dietary choices. If you prefer more heat or less, it is easy to adjust the heat level of the sausage or the amount of chili peppers you use.
Simple - This recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights when you want a delicious and satisfying meal without too much effort in the kitchen.
Comforting - This is really the ultimate comfort food, providing warmth and satisfaction, especially during colder months. When you want something comforting to eat, this recipe will do the trick!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this spicy Italian sausage pasta:
- Pasta - I used one pound of rigatoni pasta, but you can use any short pasta shape you have on hand. This is also great with bow tie pasta!
- Olive oil - Use good quality olive oil for the best flavor.
- Fresh Sausage - Use spicy Italian sausage. If you want the pasta to be less spicy, use sweet Italian sausage or mild sausage.
- Salt & black pepper
- Chili peppers - Use jarred Calabrian chili peppers. You can find these in the Italian section of any good grocery store.
- Garlic cloves
- Tomato paste - You can use tomato sauce as a substitute.
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Parmesan cheese
Directions
Let's make this easy pasta dish together!
Step 1: In a large saute pan with sides, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the hot Italian sausage, salt and black pepper. Sauté until browned, about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Add the chili peppers and garlic to the pan and continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Add the tomato paste to the pan and mix well. Add the heavy cream, stir to mix well and then reduce heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer while you cook the pasta.
Step 4: Heat a large pot of salted water over medium heat until boiling. Cook the rigatoni until al dente, about 7 minutes.
Step 5: Using a large spider strainer, transfer the pasta directly to the sauce and toss with the sauce until well combined.
Step 6: Add the butter and toss well. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips to make this quick dinner:
Pasta water - Once the pasta is cooked to al dente, you can transfer the pasta to the sauce using a spicer strainer. This adds the perfect amount of pasta water to the sauce. Alternatively, you could drain the pasta, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water. When you add the pasta to the sauce, you can also add the pasta water.
Cook pasta al dente - Cook the penne pasta al dente, following the instructions on the package. This ensures that the pasta retains a slight bite and doesn't become mushy when combined with the sauce.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this pasta recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
Pasta Pot - This pasta pot is great for any pasta lover! I use mine multiple times a week and it never fails me.
Sauté pan - You'll want a high quality large skillet with enough room to toss the sauce with the pasta.
Spider strainer - Use a spider strainer to transfer the pasta to the sauce.
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for easy recipe:
Pasta - Feel free to use other pasta shapes like penne, fusilli, or orecchiette. For a gluten-free option, try using gluten-free pasta.
Heat level - If you prefer a milder version, use sweet or mild Italian sausage or reduce the amount of Calabrian chili peppers. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili powder for an extra spicy kick.
Herbs - Experiment with different herbs like fresh basil, thyme, oregano, or rosemary to enhance the flavor profile.
Parmesan - Substitute the parmesan cheese with pecorino cheese or any other hard Italian cheese.
Veggies - If you want to add in some extra veggies, you could add sweet bell peppers or spinach.
What To Serve With
Here are some recipes to serve alongside this great dish:
Easy Garlic Bread - This recipe is so easy. It takes less than 20 minutes to make and it comes out great every single time. Garlic, butter and bread never lets you down, right?
Caprese Empanada - These easy Caprese Empanadas are a delicious combination of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil all packed inside a delicious pocket of flaky crust.
Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms - These Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms are a delightful bite sized little treat. The mushroom caps are filled with cream cheese that is mixed with parmesan, thyme, rosemary and sage. This is a perfect party appetizer or they even make a great side dish!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is really best served fresh. If you were looking to save some time, you could prepare the sauce in advance, allow it to cool and then store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. Heat the sauce in a sauté pan while you cook the pasta and prepare as the recipe instructs from there.
Yes, removing the seeds from Calabrian chili peppers can help adjust the spice level of the dish and make it milder. The seeds and the white membrane inside the chili peppers are where most of the heat is concentrated. By removing them, you'll tone down the level of spiciness in the pasta sauce.
Yes, you can definitely substitute Calabrian chili peppers with another type of chili if you don't have access to them or prefer a different flavor profile. Alternatively, you could substitute the chili peppers with crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this spicy sausage pasta recipe.
Refrigerator Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container and eat within 4-5 days.
Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
Other Recipes to Try
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Spicy Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb ground spicy Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Calabrian chili peppers
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, Italian sausage, salt, and black pepper. Sauté for 10 minutes, until browned.
- Add Calabrian chili peppers and garlic to the pan. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add tomato paste to the pan. Mix well, then add heavy cream. Stir and reduce heat to low. Simmer while you cook the pasta.
- Heat a large pot of salted boiling water over medium heat. Once the water is boiling, cook rigatoni until al dente, about 7 minutes. Use a large spider strainer to transfer the pasta directly into the sauce. This will incorporate the perfect amount of pasta water. Alternatively, you can save ¼ cup pasta water, drain the pasta, and add to the sauce.
- Toss pasta in the sauce until well combined. Add butter and toss until combined. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
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