Nothing beats a big bowl of homemade pasta, and this Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta will hit the spot every time! It's made with a light but creamy sauce and filled with tons of lean protein and veggies so you can feel great about having a serving.
The flavors in this pasta dish are simply fantastic. Although it's really low effort - you only need to spend a few minutes chopping some veggies and the smoked sausage - the end result tastes like a restaurant-quality meal. Serve this up with some homemade garlic knots for a little trip to Italy right at home!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving : $2.33
- Total Cost (6 servings): $13.96
- Those Other Guys: $16.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Smoked Chicken Sausage - I love using Italian-style smoked chicken sausage in this dish because it is packed with extra flavor from the peppers they stuff inside.
- Baby Bella Mushrooms - Any sort of fresh, white mushroom would work.
- Heavy Cream - As mentioned in the recipe card, you can use non-dairy heavy cream for a lighter take on the homemade white sauce.
- Chicken Broth - Either store-bought, or make your own.
- Pasta - Really most pasta shapes would work here. If you can't find linguine, try angel hair or bow-tie.
- Butter & Avocado Oil - We use oil to brown the chicken sausage for extra flavor, and the butter is used to sauté the veggies in our dish.
- Fresh Lemon - A bit of acidity from a freshly squeezed lemon helps cut down some of the richness of the other ingredients.
- Shredded Kale - For the fresh, green element in our pasta. Substitute for spinach if you don't like kale.
- Parmesan Cheese - Grab a block and shred directly into the sauce. This gives a great overall umami to pasta.
- Onion & Garlic - Two staple aromatics that are cooked down a bit to release even more flavor.
- Spice Blend - We keep it simple with a spice blend of salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. You can adjust these or add more according to your taste buds.
Variations and Substitutions
Smoked Sausage: Turkey, beef, or pork smoked sausage would work well here as well. Just make sure you adjust for browning times; most smoked sausage is already cooked.
Chicken Broth: Out of broth and don't want to run to the store? You can use 1 cup of warm water and a teaspoon of bouillon paste or powder in a pinch.
Other Add-Ins: Stir in some sun-dried tomatoes, frozen green peas, or sliced bell peppers for even more nutrition from veggies.
How to Make Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta
Step 1: Brown your sliced smoked sausage in avocado oil to give the dish a better depth of flavor.
Step 2: Remove the browned sausage and set aside, then melt a pat of butter over medium heat in the same skillet.
Step 3: Pour in sliced mushrooms, onions, and minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Step 4: Add in some shredded kale and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Step 5: Delegate the pan with chicken stock, and pour in heavy cream, the squeeze of half a lemon, and freshly grated parmesan.
Cook until the sauce begins to reduce.
Step 6: Finally, add your cooked sausage and al dente pasta and mix until everything is fully incorporated.
Serve with extra parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley on top.
Recipe Pro Tips
- Mise en Place. Have all of your vegetables chopped and ready to go, so you can easily add everything to the skillet at the right time.
- Don't cook your pasta all the way. I suggest cooking just a minute or so before al dente; the pasta will finish cooking in the sauce towards the end of the recipe.
- Maximize your cooking times. Cook your pasta on one burner while you're preparing the rest of the dish on another burner. A bit of a multitask, but it really pays off in terms of how long you'll be standing over a hot stove.
- Taste and adjust. This is your pasta! Make sure to taste the cream sauce and adjust for any seasonings you prefer. Whether you like more spice, some extra basil, or anything else - customize to your tastebuds.
Recipe FAQs
Sure! If you aren't cooking your pasta in a separate pot, add the dry pasta to the homemade cream sauce. Cover the skillet with a lid, and cook on low heat until the pasta has cooked through. It should take about 12-15 minutes.
Not at all. Feel free to use your favorite brand and type of smoked sausage.
Other Pasta Meals You'll Crave!
If you tried this Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta
Equipment
- Large Skillet with Deep Sides
- Chef's Knife
- Wooden Spoon
- Large Pot
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta I used linguine
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 12 ounces smoked chicken sausage sliced into quarter-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 8 ounces baby Bella mushrooms sliced
- ½ count yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup shredded kale
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ count lemon
- ⅓ cup grated fresh parmesan plus more for garnish
- freshly chopped parsley optional; for garnish
- red pepper flakes optional; for garnish
Instructions
- To begin, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water for 8-9 minutes, just before al dente.Reserve a ½ cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat the avocado oil on medium heat in a large skillet with deep sides.
- Add the sliced chicken sausage (with any casings removed), and pan fry until browned on both sides. Remove the sausage & set aside.
- In that same pan, melt the butter.Add the sliced mushrooms, diced onion, minced garlic, and shredded kale.
- Cook until the onion is fragrant, then season the mixture with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Pour in the chicken stock to deglaze the pan, using your wooden spoon to scrape up any of the fond created on the bottom of the pan.Fond is a French term that refers to the browned bits of food at the bottom of a skillet, frequently formed after searing meats. Fond has tons of flavor, so we want to be sure to incorporate it throughout the sauce.
- Add in the reserved pasta water, heavy cream, the juice of half a lemon, and the grated parmesan. Mix well. Taste the sauce at this point, and adjust any seasonings to your preference.
- As the sauce reduces and becomes thicker, pour in the cooked sausage and cooked pasta. Stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Finally, top the dish with freshly chopped parsley and extra parmesan/red pepper flakes. Enjoy!
brittni says
i made this for a bff date night - 10/10! we loved the chicken sausage for a lighter taste and feel
Shani W. says
Thank you Brittni! I'm going to take your date idea for next time I see my BFF!