Garlic Butter Sausage Parmesan Pasta

Juicy sausage bites are cooked in rich garlic butter, then tossed with tender pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce. It’s an easy, comforting dinner packed with savory flavor.

Ingredients

Garlic Butter Sausage Bites

• 450 g smoked sausage or Italian sausage, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 45 g unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 15 ml olive oil
• 5 g Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Pasta and Parmesan Sauce

• 340 g pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine
• 30 g unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 240 ml heavy cream
• 120 ml reserved pasta water
• 100 g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt, to taste
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
2. Brown the sausage: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook for 4–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned on the edges.
3. Add garlic butter: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter and minced garlic. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning and season with black pepper. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
4. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, melt 30 g butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
5. Pour in the heavy cream and reserved pasta water. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2–3 minutes.
6. Add Parmesan: Lower the heat and gradually stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. Add Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust the salt.
7. Combine: Add the cooked pasta and sausage to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is coated in the creamy Parmesan sauce. Add a little more pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
8. Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately while hot.

Tips

• Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
• For extra flavor, let the sausage develop a deep golden-brown crust before adding the butter.
• Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.
• For a spicy version, use hot Italian sausage and add extra red pepper flakes.