Spicy Sausage Pasta

This Spicy Sausage Pasta is a great choice when you’re entertaining, enjoying a date night at home or any time you want some comfort food. Every bite of creamy pasta provides a hint of tangy Dijon mustard, and smoky-spice from the chipotle peppers and spicy Italian sausages. If you’re looking for a new recipe to add to your repertoire, this is it! Delicious!

This recipe is based on a dish my mom makes from time to time. I have many great memories associated with this meal (although my mom's version isn't spicy).  We enjoy it every summer up at the cottage.

I am the kind of person who has to know what we’ll be eating for dinner and it’s what I look forward to most all day! The formula is simple: delicious food equals JOY.  This creamy pasta dish is in my top 5 favorite dinners of all time!

Explore more comfort food recipes on the blog: Cauliflower Sausage Soup, Apple Cider Butternut Squash Soup, Cozy Wild Rice Soup, Pumpkin Pie Pecan Bars and Chocolate Orange Pudding Cake.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• The ultimate comfort food
• Great at home date night meal!
• Easily adjust the level of spice in this dish
• You'll love the leftovers of this recipe for lunch the next day
• Surprisingly easily to prepare with impressive results
• A full meal in a bowl: veggies, pasta and protein all in one!

Ingredients

• Pasta - I recommend buying a spelt pasta for a healthier alternative. I chose a rigatoni shape.
• White wine - Purchase your favorite white wine for this recipe because it only calls for ½ cup and you'll be able to serve the bottle with your dinner.
• Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce - If you like extra spice and smoky flavor then don't hesitate to add additional chipotle.
• Red peppers- slice them quite thinly as pictured in the shot above.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions & Variations

• Rigatoni Pasta: you can swap this pasta shape for another. You can also swap for a gluten free pasta or whole grain pasta.
• Sausages: swap spicy Italian sausages for your favorite type of sausage or consider trying chicken sausages which are my favorite!
• White wine: I haven't tested this but theoretically you could swap the white wine for chicken broth to deglaze the pan. The finished dish just won't be quite as flavorful.
• Maple syrup: you can swap for honey or sugar of your choice.
• Optional Addition: Stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste while sautéing the vegetables for a creamy tomato-based sauce.
• Bump up the heat: Enhance the heat by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes along with increasing the chipotle in adobo.
• Veggies: Add a handful of fresh baby spinach for some added nutrition and added color.

I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.

How To Make Spicy Sausage Pasta

Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.

Step 1: Cook the sausages and set aside.

Begin by cooking the spicy Italian sausages in a large frying pan until thoroughly cooked. Once done, set them aside on a plate to rest.

Step 2: Cook the pasta to al dente according to package directions.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil for the pasta. Remember to heavily salt the water for enhanced flavor. Once the water is boiling, add the dried pasta and cook it to al dente according to the directions on the package. Once cooked, drain the pasta, run it under cold water to prevent it from sticking together and set it aside.

Step 3: Chop the veggies.

While the sausages and pasta are cooking, prepare the onion, red bell peppers, and cremini mushrooms by chopping them into appropriate sizes.

Step 4: Cook the onion.

Heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in the same pan used for cooking the sausages. Sauté the diced onion until it turns translucent.

Step 5: Deglaze the pan.

Pour the white wine into the pan with the sautéed onions. Stir for about 1 to 2 minutes to cook off the alcohol and thoroughly deglaze the pan.

Step 6: Cook peppers and mushrooms and add all sauce ingredients.

Add the thinly sliced red bell peppers and the sliced cremini mushrooms to the pan. Cook them for a few minutes until they soften.

Now, add the heavy cream, grainy Dijon mustard, crushed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and maple syrup. Season the mixture with salt and pepper according to your taste.

Step 7: Reduce the sauce and adjust for seasoning.

Let the sauce simmer until it reduces and coats the back of a spoon. This takes approximately 15 minutes. Take your time to taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning.

Step 8: Add the cooked sausages and cooked pasta.

Slice the cooked sausages into thin coins and add them to the sauce. Add the cooked pasta with the sauce as well, stir until they are evenly coated in the sauce.

Step 9: Garnish and serve

To finish, sprinkle the dish with freshly chopped parsley and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes to add additional spiciness. Serve hot and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Get organized before beginning the cooking process. If you gather your ingredients and do all of your chopping ahead of time it creates a stress free cooking experience.
• When adding wine to the pan, use a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom. This adds so much flavor to the sauce!
• Let the cream sauce simmer gently until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir consistently and avoid the sauce coming to a full boil, which can cause the cream to separate.
• Cook the pasta to "al dente". The residual heat from the sauce will continue to soften it.
• Take your time to taste and adjust for seasoning before serving. This step is the difference between a good meal and a great meal.

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