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Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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This easy, 20 minute sausage pesto pasta recipe is made with Italian sausage, basil pesto, caramelized onions, and sweet green peas. Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing, this sausage pasta recipe is sure to be a new favorite.

Forkful of sausage pesto pasta with caramelized onions and peas.

As a mom (and a working one, at that), a good, one-dish dinner makes my days so much easier. It takes away the stress of meal planning, doing dishes, and feeding my two growing boys. It’s also an easy way to introduce cooking to your kids, as it simplifies what they need to focus on as well. A meal we eat at least monthly, this Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas was a total hit with my kids, and will be with yours as well!

Ingredients

  • Bowtie pasta: Not only are they cute, but they’re bite sized and the ridges catch the sauce very well.
  • Italian sausage: I use mild to keep it kid friendly, but this dish would be delicious with a spicy sausage as well.
  • Onion: I use a white onion that is slightly sweet and caramelizes quickly and adds wonderful flavor to the sauce.
  • Pesto: Nutty, savory, and delicious on any pasta. Any basil pesto will work, homemade or store bought.
  • Lemon Juice: Bright acidic freshness for the sauce.
  • Parmigiano-Reggiano: A hard, dry cheese made from skim milk, it’s slightly nutty and salty in taste.
  • Green peas: Rich in fiber and antioxidants, peas are a small, easy way to add nutrition to your meals.

How to Make Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas

Start your Sausage Pesto Pasta by cooking your bow-tie pasta in some salted water until they’re al dente. Reserve about 1/2 a cup of water to use later, drain, and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, add the Italian sausage to a hot skillet and break apart. Cook until it is all browned, then remove from pan.

Next, add some olive oil and the sliced onion to the same pan and cook until caramelized, soft, and browned.

Add the cooked sausage back to the pan with the onion, making sure you get any residual juices.

Next add the frozen peas to the pan.

Then add the pesto, reserved pasta water, and lemon juice to create your sauce.

Add the cooked pasta to the pan, season with some salt and pepper, and stir it all together.

Finish by adding the parmigiano-reggiano and freshly cut parsley atop your pasta dish.

Sausage pesto pasta with caramelized onions and peas.

Serve and enjoy your Sausage Pesto Pasta with Onions and Peas.

Change Things Up

  • Make it gluten free. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta to serve this dish to those with celiacs or gluten allergies.
  • Switch up the veggies. Instead of peas, use corn, green beans, asparagus, bell peppers, or a mix of a few!
  • Make it vegan/vegetarian. There are great vegan “sausage” and other meat replacement options to choose from these days, or skip the sausage and double up on veggies!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What protein goes well with pesto?

Pesto tastes great on many things, including fish, chicken, and sausage!

Do you warm up pesto before you put it over pasta?

You can heat up your pesto with your pasta, as I do in this recipe, or you can simply layer it on after the pasta or meat is done cooking.

How do you store leftovers?

Kept in an airtight container, it’ll keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Sausage pesto pasta with caramelized onions and peas.

More Pasta Dishes

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Liz eating sausage pesto pasta with caramelized onions and peas.

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Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas

5 stars average
Liz Della Croce
This easy, 20 minute pasta recipe is made with Italian sausage, basil pesto, caramelized onions, and sweet green peas. Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing, this sausage pasta recipe is sure to be a new favorite.
PREP: 5 minutes
COOK: 20 minutes
TOTAL: 25 minutes
Pin
Servings4

Ingredients
 

  • 8 ounces bowtie pasta (or any short cut pasta of choice) (cooked according to package instructions)
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (ground or casings removed, sweet or spicy)
  • 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water
  • ¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • pinch chili flakes (optional)
  • ½ cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • ¼ cup minced basil or parsley (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a big pinch of salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking liquid to use later for the sauce.
    8 ounces bowtie pasta (or any short cut pasta of choice)
  • While pasta is cooking, heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Add Italian sausage (ground or casings removed) to the pan and begin breaking down using a potato masher or wooden spoon. Cook until sausage is golden brown, stirring frequently, about 7-9 minutes. Once sausage is fully cooked, remove from the pan and set aside.
    1 pound Italian sausage
  • In the same pan, drizzle in two tablespoons of olive oil and add the onion slices plus a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are golden and caramelized, about 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently.
    1 large onion, 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Once onions are caramelized return sausage to the pan along with any juices that have formed. Stir in pesto, lemon juice, reserved pasta water, parmesan and chili flakes to create a sauce. Toss in cooked pasta and green peas then stir well. Check for seasoning and adjust to taste before serving. If you have fresh herbs like parsley or basil, sprinkle them in at the end right before serving.
    1/4 cup pesto, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, pinch chili flakes, 1/2 cup green peas, salt and pepper, 1/4 cup minced basil or parsley

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 1077mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 501IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 2mg


5 from 17 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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11 responses to “Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas”

  1. Katlyn Avatar
    Katlyn

    The whole family loved this! I substituted roasted butternut squash for the peas

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Oh that sounds so good! I’ll have to try that next time.

  2. ally Avatar
    ally

    thank you for this fab recipe!!! i have made it several times with GF pasta, and every single one of my picky kids will eat it without complaint. I love an easy and straightforward recipe that uses basic ingredients and turns them into a WOW dinner.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      I’m glad you and your kids enjoy it, and that it’s still a hit with GF pasta! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Kaley Clarke Avatar
    Kaley Clarke

    We make this recipe almost weekly in our home! My husband and kids (aged 7 and 5) love it! I usually make a double batch to have leftovers for lunch all week :)

  4. Ally Avatar
    Ally

    This was so delicious! Made it last night and added zucchini that I had on hand in addition to the peas. Will definitely be making again!

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Zucchini sounds like a great add! Glad you enjoyed it!

  5. Elli Avatar
    Elli

    We love this recipe! I haven’t always had sausage but have used grilled chicken breast! It’s never fails to be a huge hit!

  6. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I made this recipe with chicken Italian sausage, whole grain pasta and asparagus and it was delicious. One note, I boiled my asparagus for three min prior to cooking the pasta and added the asparagus to the dish when peas were to be added.

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      That sounds delicious!

  7. Noah Avatar
    Noah

    Hey Liz, Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe. Please share some more recipes with us.