Description
A rich and creamy chicken and sausage pasta made with tender chicken, browned Italian sausage, ruffled mafaldine noodles, red bell pepper, and a silky parmesan cream sauce. A comforting skillet dinner perfect for weeknights or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 12 ounces Italian sausage, sliced
- 12 ounces mafaldine pasta
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook mafaldine pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil.
- Add sliced Italian sausage and cook until browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add diced chicken to the skillet. Season lightly with salt and pepper and cook until golden and fully cooked through.
- Add diced red bell pepper and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Return the sausage to the skillet. Pour in heavy cream and stir in Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Add grated parmesan cheese and stir until fully melted and smooth.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Do not boil the sauce after adding parmesan to prevent separation.
- Cook pasta just to al dente so it holds texture in the sauce.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest melting result.
- Reheat gently with a splash of cream or milk to restore creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 110mg