Description
A rich and creamy Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta featuring savory Italian sausage, tender farfalle pasta, and a luscious tomato and cream sauce, garnished with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a comforting and flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz bow tie (farfalle) pasta
Sauce and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the bow tie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Prepare the sauce: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and let the sauce cook gently for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to reduce richness.
- Add spinach or mushrooms along with the onions for extra vegetables and flavor.
- You can omit red pepper flakes if you prefer no heat.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan enhances the depth of flavor.
