Description
A creamy and smoky one-skillet pasta dish that’s quick and satisfying, featuring savory smoked sausage, tender pasta, and vibrant veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa — sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 12 oz pasta — penne or rotini preferred
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 small onion — diced
- 3 cloves garlic — minced
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes — optional
- Salt and pepper — to taste
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 red bell pepper — diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes — halved
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Extra Parmesan — for topping
- Fresh parsley — chopped for garnish
- Garlic bread and a simple green salad — optional sides
Instructions
- Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage slices and brown until edges are slightly crisp, about 4–5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Add diced onion and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté in the sausage drippings until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom.
- Add uncooked pasta to the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Season with Cajun seasoning, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Cover the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until pasta is tender and the sauce thickens, about 12–15 minutes.
- Stir the browned sausage back into the pan along with frozen peas and grated Parmesan. Add fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes; cook another 1–2 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes warm through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Notes
Use pre-cooked smoked sausage. For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half and increase broth slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: pasta, creamy, smoked sausage, one-skillet, comfort food