Description
Creamy Spicy Garlic Noodles with Sausage is a comforting and flavorful dish combining silky cream sauce, bold garlic, zesty red pepper flakes, and savory Italian sausage. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners or casual weekends, offering a delicious balance of heat, richness, and satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta & Sausage
- 8 oz pasta noodles (spaghetti, linguine, or preferred variety)
- 12 oz Italian sausage (spicy or mild)
Sauce & Seasonings
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnishes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente (8 to 10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining to help loosen the sauce if needed later.
- Prepare the Sausage: While pasta cooks, crumble and brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove excess fat if desired.
- Sauté Garlic and Spice: In the same skillet, add butter and olive oil. Gently sauté minced garlic until fragrant and golden (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in red pepper flakes to lightly toast and release flavor.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Return the cooked sausage to the cream, stirring to combine and slightly thicken. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Toss Pasta and Add Cheese: Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat every strand in the creamy spicy sauce. If sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until desired consistency. Finally, stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for the most vibrant flavor.
- Do not overcook pasta; aim for al dente to maintain texture.
- Reserve pasta water to thin the sauce without losing flavor.
- Brown sausage thoroughly for depth and savory caramelization.
- Adjust red pepper flakes gradually to control spice level.
- Dish reheats well; add splash of cream or pasta water when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg