Garlic Butter Sausage Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta
Creamy, juicy, and packed with garlicky goodness, this Garlic Butter Sausage Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta is comfort food at its finest.
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Skillet
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the butter is melted and hot, add the sausage pieces in a single layer.
- Cook the sausage without stirring too often so it browns, about 4–5 minutes per side, until caramelized and cooked through (about 10 minutes total). Season lightly with salt and pepper as it cooks.
- Add the minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic. Remove the sausage bites from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Pour in the heavy cream and add the garlic powder and onion powder. Stir constantly and gently heat until the cream is warm but not boiling, about 2–3 minutes.
- Gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously so the cheese melts smoothly into the cream. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens slightly, 2–3 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a tablespoon or two of reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the cooked rotini to the skillet and toss gently to coat every piece in sauce.
- Either stir the sausage bites into the pasta or arrange them on top for presentation. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. The sauce will thicken in the fridge. You can freeze the pasta, but cream-based sauces may separate slightly when frozen.