Description
This Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring perfectly cooked bow tie pasta combined with a rich sauce made from Italian sausage, bell peppers, garlic, and a creamy tomato base. Enhanced with fragrant herbs and Parmesan cheese, this easy-to-make recipe delivers a comforting meal ideal for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, removed from casings (sweet or hot)
- 1 pound Bow Tie Pasta (Farfalle)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil, extra virgin
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 medium Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- 1 medium Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped
- 28 ounces Canned Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (or more to taste)
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Garnish
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through (about 8-10 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Leave sausage fat in the skillet. Add chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Bell Peppers: Stir in minced garlic and chopped red and yellow bell peppers. Cook for 3-5 minutes until peppers soften and garlic is fragrant.
- Build the Tomato Base: Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to the skillet. Stir well to combine with the sautéed vegetables.
- Add Herbs and Spices: Incorporate dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring sauce to a simmer, then lower heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-30 minutes to meld flavors, stirring occasionally.
- Add Chicken Broth and Cream: Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream until well combined.
- Incorporate the Sausage: Return the browned sausage to the skillet and mix into the sauce.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce to enrich the flavor.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Boil the Pasta: While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook bow tie pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
- Drain the Pasta: Drain the pasta using a colander.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and sausage. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly.
- Adjust Consistency: If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve Immediately: Plate the pasta and serve right away for best flavor and texture.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.
Notes
- You can use sweet or hot Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and helps it adhere better to the pasta.
- Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to deepen and develop.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or reduce the amount.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop with a splash of cream or broth.
