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creamy sausage pasta

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta (Gluten-Free)

Tammy OverhoffTammy Overhoff
This creamy Italian sausage pasta is everything you want in a comforting Italian dinner - rich, hearty, full of flavor - and completely gluten free.
It’s made with flavorful Italian sausage, a silky Parmesan cream sauce, and perfectly cooked gluten-free pasta that soaks up every bit of that delicious sauce. And the best part? It comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner that still feels a little special.
If you’ve been missing those creamy, restaurant-style pasta dishes since going gluten free, this is one of those recipes that brings it all back. It has that same cozy, satisfying feel of something you’d order at your favorite Italian restaurant - but made right at home, with ingredients you trust.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 people
Calories 696 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot
  • 1 Colander
  • 1 cheese grater
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Spatula or large spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces gluten-free rigatoni or any short pasta
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb Italian sausage links casings removed
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese more for serving
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gluten-free pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Do not overcook, as the pasta will continue cooking in the sauce. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
  • Cook the sausage. In the same pot or a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned and no longer pink, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside. Carefully drain any excess grease if needed.
  • Sauté the aromatics. Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant. Add butter and then stir in the garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes, just until fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  • Make the sauce. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Let the sauce gently simmer over medium-low heat until it starts to bubble slightly. Do not let it boil.
  • Combine everything. Add the cooked sausage back into the pan and stir until heated through. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
  • Add the pasta. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Let it cook for a few minutes so the sauce thickens and clings to the pasta. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  • Finish and serve. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Serve hot with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Helpful Notes

  • Cook pasta just to al dente (or even slightly under). Gluten-free pasta can go from perfectly cooked to too soft very quickly. Since the pasta will continue cooking once it’s added to the sauce, pulling it a minute or two early helps it hold its texture.
  • Always reserve some pasta water before draining. The starchy water is perfect for loosening the sauce if it becomes too thick and helps the sauce cling better to the pasta.
  • Keep the heat moderate when cooking garlic. Garlic can burn quickly, which will give the entire dish a bitter flavor. Cook just until fragrant and lightly golden.
  • Use a good-quality Italian sausage for the best flavor. The sausage is one of the main flavor components in this dish, so choosing a high-quality sausage makes a big difference.
  • Adjust the sausage to your taste. Mild or sweet Italian sausage will give you a more classic, family-friendly flavor, while hot Italian sausage will add a little heat and spice.
  • Drain excess grease from the sausage if needed. Italian sausage can release quite a bit of fat while cooking. Removing some of the grease helps keep the sauce rich and creamy without feeling too heavy.
  • Choose sturdy pasta shapes. Rigatoni is ideal because it holds the sauce well, but penne, rotini, or other short gluten-free pasta shapes work great too.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan melts best. It creates a smoother, creamier sauce compared to pre-shredded cheese.
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Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 696kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 22gFat: 47gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 712mgPotassium: 368mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 512IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 147mgIron: 2mg
Keyword creamy italian sausage pasta, creamy italian sausage pasta recipe, creamy pasta and sausage, italian sausage pasta
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