Creamy Pasta with Sausage

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the 12 oz pasta and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.

Step 2

While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add the 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed) and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Step 3

Reduce heat to medium. Add the 2 tbsp butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits.

Step 4

Pour in the 1 cup heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 5

Return the sausage to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss to coat. If too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until creamy.

Step 6

Season with the 1 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp black pepper. Stir in the 0.25 cup chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Step 7

Optional: top with grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.