Sausage Penne in a Creamy Garlic Butter Ranch Sauce
A delightful dish combining comfort and flavor with a creamy garlic ranch sauce, perfect for weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Meat
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 9-11 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until cooked through, then remove and set aside.
- Sauté the minced garlic in melted unsalted butter for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Create the creamy sauce by stirring in the heavy cream, chicken broth, and ranch seasoning mix, bringing to a gentle simmer.
- Add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine everything by returning the penne pasta and sausage to the skillet and tossing until well coated.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use less Parmesan. You can also add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for added nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg