This Roasted Garlic Sausage & White Wine Pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish, perfect for any weeknight meal. Made with Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe’s, it’s a creamy, savory pasta that’s quick to prepare and guaranteed to satisfy. The garlic-infused sauce with a touch of white wine and parmesan elevates this dish to comfort food heaven.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 12 oz gluten-free fusilli or any pasta of choice

• 12 oz chicken sausage (sliced into rounds, preferably without casing)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2-3 tablespoons minced garlic

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

• 1/4 cup dry white wine

• 1 cup heavy cream (room temperature)

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• A pinch of nutmeg

• Salt to taste

• 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano

• 1/4 cup pasta water (reserved)

Directions

1. Cook the Sausage:
   In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned on both sides. Once cooked, remove from the skillet and set aside.

2. Make the Sauce:
   In the same skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a few minutes until golden. Add the Italian seasoning, then pour in the white wine. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the wine to reduce slightly.

3. Add Cream & Seasoning:
   Gradually pour in the heavy cream, then stir in garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, black pepper, and salt. Sprinkle in the grated parmesan and whisk until smooth. Let the sauce simmer and thicken.

4. Prepare the Pasta:
   While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package instructions, removing it from heat just before al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.

5. Combine Pasta and Sausage:
   Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Return the sausage to the skillet and toss everything together.

6. Serve:
   Serve the pasta garnished with fresh parsley and extra grated parmesan cheese.

Nutrients (Estimated per serving)

• Calories: 550-600 kcal

• Fat: 30g

• Protein: 30g

• Carbohydrates: 50g

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugars: 3g

• Sodium: 800mg

The Star Ingredient: Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage

One of the highlights of this dish is the Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage, which adds a robust garlic flavor without being overpowering. Unlike traditional pork sausage, this chicken sausage is lighter but still juicy, with a slightly smoky flavor. The sausage’s roasted garlic essence is perfect for blending into the creamy sauce, giving it a deep, savory undertone that enhances the dish. If you can’t find the exact sausage at Trader Joe’s, any high-quality chicken sausage with garlic will work just as well. This sausage is also a healthier option, providing lean protein without compromising on flavor, making it ideal for a more balanced meal.

The Creamy Sauce: A Balance of Flavors

The creamy sauce for this pasta is where the magic happens. It’s built on a rich combination of butter, heavy cream, and white wine, creating a sauce that is both decadent and balanced. The addition of minced garlic provides a fragrant base, and as it sautéed in butter, the garlic becomes golden and aromatic, infusing the sauce with a sweet, nutty depth. Italian seasoning adds an herby touch, while the white wine introduces a subtle acidity that helps cut through the richness of the cream, giving the sauce a slight tang.

The garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and a pinch of nutmeg round out the flavor profile. These seasonings add depth and complexity, making the sauce more than just a creamy base—it becomes an integral part of the dish that complements the sausage and pasta perfectly. The red pepper flakes, though optional, provide just a hint of heat, which enhances the savory elements of the dish and adds a layer of interest.

The Pasta: Choosing the Right Shape

For this dish, gluten-free fusilli is an excellent choice, as its spiral shape allows the creamy sauce to cling to each piece, ensuring every bite is full of flavor. However, you can use any pasta you prefer—tagliatelle, pappardelle, or penne all work beautifully with this sauce. The key is to cook the pasta just to al dente, ensuring it holds its shape and texture once tossed in the sauce.

Remember to reserve some pasta water before draining the pasta—this starchy water is your secret weapon. Adding it to the sauce can help loosen the mixture, making it more silky and cohesive, allowing the sauce to better adhere to the pasta.

Sautéing the Sausage and Building the Sauce

The first step in making this Roasted Garlic Sausage & White Wine Pasta is to cook the sausage. Heating olive oil in a large skillet and browning the sausage rounds until golden on both sides gives the dish a crispy texture and deep flavor. Once cooked, the sausage is set aside, allowing the skillet to retain those flavorful brown bits, which will be incorporated into the sauce for added richness.

Next, the butter is melted in the same skillet, and the minced garlic is sautéed until golden. This step is crucial—garlic, when cooked in butter, releases its natural sugars, turning it sweet and mellow while infusing the sauce with incredible flavor. The white wine is added to deglaze the pan, lifting the caramelized bits of garlic and sausage from the skillet and incorporating them into the sauce. This step not only adds depth but also allows the wine to reduce slightly, concentrating its flavor and balancing the richness of the cream.

Combining the Sauce and Pasta

Once the white wine has reduced and the sauce is thickened, it’s time to add the heavy cream. The cream is gently stirred in, followed by the seasoning mix: garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, and nutmeg. At this point, you can adjust the seasoning by adding salt and pepper to taste. The Parmesan cheese is then whisked in, which brings a nutty, salty flavor and helps to thicken the sauce even more.

When the sauce reaches a smooth and velvety consistency, the cooked pasta is added directly into the skillet. Tossing the pasta in the sauce ensures that every strand is coated in the rich, creamy mixture. If the sauce is too thick, simply add the reserved pasta water a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

Finally, the sausage is returned to the skillet, and everything is tossed together. The sausage now melds with the sauce, and the flavors are beautifully combined.

Serving the Pasta

Once everything is mixed and heated through, the Roasted Garlic Sausage & White Wine Pasta is ready to be served. The dish is garnished with fresh parsley, adding a touch of brightness and color to the creamy sauce. A sprinkle of extra Parmesan cheese is always a good idea, enhancing the salty, umami flavors and making each bite even more indulgent.

This dish pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad and a glass of white wine, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, to complement the acidity in the sauce and bring out the richness of the sausage.

Nutritional Value

Each serving of this Roasted Garlic Sausage & White Wine Pasta offers a hearty portion with approximately 550-600 calories. With 30 grams of protein, the chicken sausage provides a substantial source of lean protein, making this a well-rounded meal. The dish contains 30 grams of fat, which is primarily from the butter and heavy cream, making it rich and satisfying, but still within a reasonable range for a comforting pasta dish.

With 50 grams of carbohydrates, mostly from the gluten-free fusilli, and 3 grams of fiber, this dish provides a filling meal that’s balanced with protein, fat, and carbs. It also contains about 800 milligrams of sodium, depending on the specific brand of sausage and cheese used, which is something to consider if you’re watching your sodium intake. However, the dish is made even healthier by using gluten-free pasta, making it an accessible option for those with dietary restrictions.

Conclusion

Roasted Garlic Sausage & White Wine Pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish that combines the richness of roasted garlic sausage with a creamy, savory sauce. The slow-cooked sausage, garlic-infused butter, white wine, and Parmigiano Reggiano come together to create a meal that is satisfying and indulgent without being overly heavy. It’s an ideal dish for weeknight dinners when you want something that’s quick, simple, and guaranteed to satisfy. Whether served with a salad, some garlic bread, or just on its own, this pasta will become a new go-to in your dinner rotation.