Sausage Pasta Sauce
Transform your pasta nights with this rich and hearty Sausage Pasta Sauce, a crowd-pleasing recipe perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners. Featuring savory Italian sausage, aromatic garlic, and a luscious blend of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, this sauce strikes the perfect balance of bold, comforting flavors. Customizable with mild or spicy sausage and the option to add heavy cream for a silky finish, this robust sauce comes together in just 45 minutes. Infused with classic Italian herbs like oregano and basil, and a subtle kick from crushed red pepper flakes, it will elevate any pasta dish to restaurant quality. Serve it over your favorite noodles and garnish with fresh parsley for a beautiful, flavor-packed meal the whole family will love.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (canned)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 cup heavy cream (optional, for a creamy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
Add the sausage to the pan. Using a wooden spoon, break it apart into small pieces. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until fully browned. Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat.
In the same pan (leave about 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat from the sausage), add the diced onion. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
Add minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir in the tomato paste until well combined.
Add the cooked sausage back into the pan, along with the oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine all the flavors.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat to medium-low and let it cook uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
If you'd like a creamier sauce, stir in the heavy cream during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
Serve the sauce over cooked pasta of your choice. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
527 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 39.3 g | 50% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.9 g | 69% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 97 mg | 32% | |
| Sodium | 1679 mg | 73% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 20.6 g | 7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.8 g | 17% | |
| Total Sugars | 11.1 g | ||
| Protein | 22.6 g | 45% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 97 mg | 7% | |
| Iron | 3.2 mg | 18% | |
| Potassium | 840 mg | 18% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
