Creamy Sausage Pasta with Corn and Basil is a simple dinner you can make in 30 minutes.

This easy Sausage Pasta is so cozy, flavorful and colorful. The combination of fresh basil, corn, and sausage with the creamy mascarpone sauce is to die for. It’s an indulgent and comforting weeknight dinner.

photo of a bowl of creamy sausage pasta

So, I know that our family is trying this whole eating healthy thing, but every once in a while I feel like we need to treat ourselves and just indulge in creamy, cheesy, yumminess. Everyone does this right?!

This Creamy Sausage Pasta is how we’ve been treating ourselves lately. Hearty sausage with sweet corn and basil is a wonderful combination of flavors. And for the indulgent part? Hello, creamy mascarpone cheese sauce. The sauce pulls it all together making it a bowl of pasta perfection.

Easy Sausage Pasta

Sometimes I fall into a pasta rut making the same old dinners over and over. I love all of our old favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, but it’s always nice to switch things up.

Usually, my hubby lets me know when it’s time – he tends to get tired of things quicker than I do! So, if you’re looking to shake things up you should treat yourself to this one. It’s definitely something new (yay!).

The colors of this dish remind me of the Farmer’s Market in the spring. Touches of green, yellow, with a hint of red, sigh, beautiful.  It has bold flavors from Italian sausage and a hint of heat from the chili paste that’s balanced out by the richness of the sauce.  It’s an easy 30-minute recipe that’s perfect for weeknights. I think you’re going to love it.

Overhead photo of the ingredients for the dish

Ingredients

  • Penne
  • Olive oil
  • Sweet or mild Italian sausage
  • Diced onion
  • Fresh or thawed frozen corn
  • Salt
  • Mascarpone cheese
  • Sambal chili paste
  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Chopped fresh basil

Mascarpone cheese is a soft and creamy Italian cheese. It’s so creamy all you need to turn it into a sauce is some of the starchy water from the penne, but more about that in a minute.

Sambal chili paste has a complex flavor that adds so much to this dish. It’s a combination of chilis, spices and herbs. It’s spicy, but when you combine it with the cheese the richness mutes the spiciness so all you get it a hint of heat. You can usually find it in the Asian foods section at the grocery store.

How to Make It

Boil the penne. Before you drain it, set aside 1/2 cup of the cooking water.

sausage cooking in a skillet

Cook the sausage with the onion and corn. Transfer it all to a large serving dish or bowl.

sausage cooking with  the onion and corn

Add the mascarpone, chili paste, and hot penne along with the reserved starchy water.

mascarpone cheese and chili paste being added to the pan.

Top it all with the Parmesan cheese and toss, toss, toss until the cheese melts and creates a creamy sauce.

pasta, corn and sausage topped with cottage cheese

Add the basil, toss again, and it’s ready to serve.

basil added to the pan.

It’s best served immediately while it’s hot and the sauce is really creamy. I like to have some extra Parmesan cheese on the side so everyone can add more if they want it.

the basil being mixed into the dish

This dish is such a wonderful combination of hearty and fresh. The rich cheese sauce with the sausage is so perfectly balanced by the freshness of the corn and basil. It seems so much more complicated than it really is – no one will guess you pulled it all together in 30 minutes.

Enjoy! xoxo San

creamy sausage pasta on a plate

More Family Favorites to Try

Does your family love pasta as much as mine? You have to try some more of our easy recipes!

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!

pinterest collage image

Creamy Sausage Pasta with Corn and Basil

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 665 kcal
Creamy Sausage & Corn Penne Pasta made with fresh corn & basil, Italian sausage, and mascarpone & parmesan cheeses. Simple pasta perfection in 30 minutes.
creamy sausage pasta

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage we prefer spicy
  • 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
  • 2 cups fresh or frozen corn thawed, not canned!
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 8 ounces mascarpone
  • 1 tablespoon Sambal chili paste found in the Asian aisle at your local grocery store
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

Instructions
 

  • Boil a large pot of salted water on medium-high heat. Add penne and cook according to the package directions. Once noodles are al dente, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the remaining water from the noodles. Make sauce while pasta is cooking.
  • Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and sausage; cook for about 5-6 minutes, breaking up the sausage as it cooks with a wooden spoon. Break the sausage into bite-sized pieces. 
  • Add the yellow onion and cook for another minute or two. Stir in the corn and salt. Stir until the corn is warm, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large serving dish.
  • Add mascarpone, chili paste, the hot pasta, and the 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to the large serving bowl with the corn and sausage. Add the Parmesan directly over the hot pasta. Then using a large serving spoon, toss everything together well. Then add the basil and lightly toss again.
  • Serve immediately and with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

Recipe from Food Network
Calories: 665kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 23gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 772mgPotassium: 428mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 545IUVitamin C: 5.3mgCalcium: 206mgIron: 1.8mg
creamy sausage pasta
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

Similar Posts

20 Comments

  1. My family loved this. I subbed in sriracha for the chili paste, as that’s what I had here at home. Thanks for sharing!

  2. This looks really good! Is there anything I can substitute for the mascarpone? It’s a tad expensive.
    Thanks!

  3. Can I substitute anything for the masaropone:-) my husband doesn’t like it, or sour cream, or cream chese

  4. 5 stars
    I can’t tell you how much I love this recipe. I made it a few days ago, and the family went bananas for it. I love all the sausage and that creamy sauce.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating