Description
Marry Me Ditalini Sausage Pasta delivers irresistible comfort with Italian-inspired flavors that dance on your palate. Hearty sausage, tender pasta, and rich cream sauce promise a romantic dinner experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Starches and Pasta:
- 1 pound ditalini pasta
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook ditalini pasta until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage into the pan and cook until golden brown and fully rendered, about 6-7 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to a separate plate.
- In the same skillet with residual sausage drippings, sauté finely chopped onions until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, releasing aromatic flavors.
- Pour diced tomatoes into the skillet, incorporating Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Allow mixture to simmer and reduce, stirring occasionally for approximately 5 minutes.
- Gradually stream heavy cream into the tomato base, whisking continuously. Fold in grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until sauce reaches a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Reintroduce browned sausage to the skillet. Gently fold in cooked ditalini pasta, ensuring each piece is luxuriously coated with the rich, creamy sauce.
- Transfer to serving dishes, garnishing with fresh basil leaves and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose pasta with ridges or texture to help sauce cling better, ensuring maximum flavor in every bite.
- Remove sausage casings before cooking for more even browning and to release maximum flavor into the skillet.
- Allow sauce to simmer slowly, letting tomatoes break down and develop rich, deep flavors without rushing the process.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-packaged for superior melting and more authentic taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 531 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 421 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg