Garlic Butter Sausage Bites with Creamy Parmesan Pasta

• total time: 6 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound smoked sausage (such as kielbasa or andouille), sliced into bite-sized pieces

4 tablespoons butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

8 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Cook the Pasta:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.

Drain and set aside.

Prepare the Garlic Butter Sausage Bites:

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Add the sliced sausage pieces and cook until browned and heated through, about 5 minutes.

Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.

Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Return the sausage to the skillet, tossing to coat in the garlic butter.

Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.

Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley.

Prepare the Creamy Parmesan Sauce:

In a separate saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until warmed.

Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Combine and Serve:

Toss the cooked pasta in the creamy Parmesan sauce until fully coated.

Serve the garlic butter sausage bites over the creamy Parmesan pasta.

Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.