Ingredients
- 12 oz bow tie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook bow tie pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add chopped onion and bell pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter version.
- Add spinach or kale for extra greens.
- Swap tomato sauce for garlic cream sauce to make it tomato-free.
- Mix in shredded mozzarella for extra cheesiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
