Description
Sizzling Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sausage Pasta blends hearty Italian sausage with zesty barbecue sauce in a quick weeknight dinner. Creamy pasta and smoky flavors merge for a mouthwatering meal that satisfies intense comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
Vegetable and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Cooking and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender, then carefully drain, reserving the pasta for subsequent steps.
- Select a generously sized skillet and warm olive oil over medium flame. Carefully arrange sausage slices, allowing them to caramelize and develop a rich golden-brown exterior, approximately 5 minutes per side. Transfer sausage to a separate plate.
- Within the same skillet, introduce diced onions and allow them to become translucent and softened. Quickly incorporate minced garlic, stirring rapidly to prevent burning and release aromatic notes.
- Pour BBQ sauce and heavy cream into the skillet, creating a luxurious, velvety mixture. Gently integrate the ingredients, allowing them to meld and develop complex flavor profiles.
- Reintroduce the beautifully browned sausage slices into the creamy sauce, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Permit the ingredients to simmer and intermingle for several minutes.
- Add the previously prepared pasta directly into the skillet, meticulously tossing to guarantee complete sauce coverage. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Transfer the completed dish to serving plates, adorning with finely chopped parsley or delicate green onion rings. Present immediately to capture the optimal temperature and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Select high-quality sausage with robust flavors like spicy Italian or smoked varieties to enhance the overall dish complexity.
- Keep pasta slightly undercooked when draining, as it will continue absorbing sauce during final simmering, preventing mushy texture.
- Swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk for lighter, healthier alternatives that maintain creamy consistency.
- Control sauce thickness by adjusting BBQ sauce and cream ratio; add pasta water if sauce becomes too thick during cooking process.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg