Description
This Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring sweet or hot Italian sausage cooked with aromatic onions, garlic, and bell peppers, simmered in a rich tomato cream sauce with herbs and Parmesan cheese. The tender bow tie pasta is tossed in the luscious sauce, making for a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, removed from casings (sweet or hot)
- 1 pound Bow Tie Pasta (Farfalle)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 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
Tomato Sauce Base
- 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)
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Liquids and Cheese
- 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Cook until the sausage is browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Leave any rendered fat in the skillet. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Bell Peppers: Add the minced garlic and chopped bell peppers to the skillet. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the peppers are slightly softened and the garlic is fragrant.
- Build the Tomato Base: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix well to combine with the sautéed vegetables.
- Add Herbs and Spices: Add the dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes to the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to meld together. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Chicken Broth and Cream: Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream to enrich the sauce.
- Incorporate the Sausage: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir it into the sauce, ensuring it is evenly combined.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese to add a savory richness to the sauce.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as desired.
- Boil the Pasta: While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to the package directions, until al dente.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water to help adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Drain the Pasta: Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sausage and tomato sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the Italian sausage bow tie pasta immediately while hot and flavorful.
- Garnish: Garnish each serving with fresh chopped parsley and additional grated Parmesan cheese for a fresh and cheesy finish.
Notes
- Choose either sweet or hot Italian sausage depending on how spicy you want the dish.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to deepen and meld beautifully.
- Parmesan cheese can be adjusted according to taste or substituted with pecorino.
- This dish pairs well with a crisp green salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
