Creamy Italian Sausage Penne

Cooking timeline

1. 0:00
   Boil the water

   Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add enough salt so the water tastes lightly salty.

2. 0:05
   Cook the penne

   Add the penne and cook according to the package directions until just al dente. Before draining, reserve ¾ cup pasta water. Drain the pasta without rinsing.

3. 0:06
   Brown the sausage

   While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add the sausage, break it apart, and cook for 7–9 minutes until browned with no pink remaining. If needed, drain most of the grease while leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.

4. 0:15
   Add butter + garlic

   Lower the heat to medium. Add the butter and garlic and stir for 30–45 seconds, just until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.

5. 0:16
   Season

   Add the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, optional red pepper flakes, and a tiny pinch of Adobo. Stir for about 30 seconds.

6. 0:17
   Make the cream sauce

   Lower the heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream and scrape up the browned bits. Gently simmer for 3–4 minutes, stirring often. Do not let it boil aggressively.

7. 0:21
   Add the cheese

   Lower the heat to low. Add the Parmesan a little at a time, stirring after each addition until smooth. Add the optional mozzarella and stir until melted.

8. 0:25
   Toss with pasta

   Add the drained penne and toss until coated. Stir in ¼ cup pasta water for 1–2 minutes, then add more a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce is creamy and clings to the pasta.

9. 0:30
   Taste + rest

   Taste before adding salt or Adobo because the sausage and Parmesan are already salty. Turn off the heat and rest for 2–3 minutes so the sauce thickens.