Sausage Pesto Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Peas

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.

Course Dinner, Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword pasta, peas, pesto, sausage

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings

Calories 570kcal

Author Liz DellaCroce

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.
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.
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.
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.

Nutrition