This Creamy Sausage Mushroom Pasta recipe is pure comfort food with shallots and garlic and a delicious, easy-to-make cream sauce.

creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni in a pot

When the mood for comfort food strikes, make this creamy sausage mushroom pasta. Use any pasta you’d like. I recommend rotini, penne, rigatoni or bow ties. You want to choose a pasta that has some nooks and crannies (or tubes) so the sauce can nestle itself inside of those secret spots. As far as the sausage goes, I like to use mild Italian sausage. If you’re one who likes things spicy, use the spicy version instead.

ingredients displayed for making creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni

Ingredients needed:

  • pasta
  • Italian sausage
  • salted butter
  • fresh mushrooms
  • shallots
  • garlic
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • heavy whipping cream
  • fresh parsley

four photos showing how to make creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni

How to make Creamy Sausage Mushroom Pasta:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, and then put the pasta back into the pot. Save ½ cup of pasta water, in case it’s needed for the sauce. 
 
In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes or until cooked through. Break it into small pieces, and remove the sausage from the pan and onto a paper towel-lined plate.
 
In the skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 4 minutes- stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the liquid has evaporated.
 
Stir in the cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add the cooked sausage to the skillet; heat through. Add the sauce to the pasta in the pan. Stir to combine. Add a little pasta water, if desired, if the sauce seems too thick.

creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni in a pot

What do pasta recipes call for using pasta water?

The pasta releases some of its starch as it cooks, and that salty, starchy water makes a great thickener. Add pasta water back into the pasta and sauce if it seems like things need to loosen up a little bit. Always save pasta water when you drain your pasta- just in case you need it!

creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni

The result is a pasta dish with a cream sauce that lightly coats the pasta and other ingredients. You won’t see pasta swimming in sauce in this recipe.

serving of creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni on white plate

Garnish individual servings with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley. You can also add a little grated Parmesan cheese, if you’d like. Enjoy!

fork full of creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni

The Best Pasta Recipes:

creamy sausage mushroom rigatoni in a pot
5 from 2 votes

Creamy Mushroom Sausage Pasta

A decadent, favorite pasta recipe!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 36 minutes
Total: 56 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, and then put the pasta back into the pot (save ½ cup of pasta water, in case it's needed for the sauce).
  • In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat for 4 to 6 minutes or until cooked through. Break it into small pieces, and remove the sausage from the pan and onto a paper towel-lined plate.
  • In the skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 4 minutes- stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the liquid has evaporated.
  • Stir in the cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add the cooked sausage to the skillet; heat through. Add the sauce to the pasta in the pan. Stir to combine. Add a little pasta water, if desired, if the sauce seems too thick. Garnish individual servings with a sprinkle of parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 848kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 55g, Saturated Fat: 28g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 151mg, Sodium: 788mg, Potassium: 709mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1209IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 90mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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7 Comments

  1. CW says:

    Simple to make and very good. I lightened the calories up by substituting 2 x 12oz cans evaporated milk for the cream. Works just fine if you let it reduce as directed.

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Good tip, thank you!

  2. Terry says:

    Can I make this the night before?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Sure- just re-heat.

  3. GadgetGirl53 says:

    5 stars
    This was definitely a big hit in my house. There is two of us and there is enough left for my husband’s lunch…..he already called it as his

  4. Georgia says:

    We have gone from 4 to 2 at the dinner table. I’m thinking this can be made as a half recipe, right? Sometimes 2 nights of leftovers is 2 much! 😉

    1. Lori Lange says:

      sure!