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A white bowl filled with penne pasta, browned Italian sausage, and caramelized Brussels sprouts topped with parmesan cheese.
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Autumn Sausage Pasta with Brussels Sprouts

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 550kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 oz dried penne pasta
  • 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente.
  • While pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it into crumbles with a spatula, and cook until browned and cooked through (about 7-8 minutes). Remove sausage from skillet and set aside.
  • Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the same skillet. Place Brussels sprouts cut-side down and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until caramelized and golden brown.
  • Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sprouts; sauté for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent.
  • Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir in the red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
  • Add the pasta and reserved water to the skillet, tossing constantly over medium heat until a light sauce forms and coats the pasta.
  • Remove from heat, stir in the parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.