Description
Easy Sausage Asparagus Pasta is a quick 30-minute Italian-American dinner that combines savory sausage, tender-crisp asparagus, and perfectly cooked pasta in a creamy or light garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette)
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 bunch asparagus (trimmed and cut into 1–2 inch pieces)
- 1 cup heavy cream (for creamy version)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest or 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and fully cooked (about 6–8 minutes). Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add olive oil if the pan is dry. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the asparagus pieces to the skillet. Cook for 3–5 minutes until tender-crisp and bright green.
- For creamy version: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and ¼–½ cup reserved pasta water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- For lighter garlic butter version: Add 2 tablespoons butter and ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Stir until a light glossy sauce forms.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Stir in Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve immediately.
Notes
- This dish serves four people.
- Customize with different pasta shapes, sausage types, and additional vegetables.
- Ideal for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: Sausage Asparagus Pasta, quick dinner, Italian-American recipe