Here’s a perfect pasta dish, a one-pan dream that pairs tomatoes with savory Italian sausage. Even picky eaters will love this simple dish, featuring a sweet, creamy sauce that can be spiced to taste with red pepper flakes. The whole thing comes together in under 15 minutes, making it an easy weeknight meal that’s impressive enough for date night, too. This dish makes delicious leftovers, and cleanup is a breeze.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

　　2 tablespoons olive oil

　　1 pound sweet Italian sausages, casings removed

　　1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

　　1 cup chopped onion

　　3 garlic cloves, minced

　　1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes with purée

　　1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

　　1 pound farfalle (bow-tie pasta)

　　1/2 cup (packed) chopped fresh basil

　　Freshly grated pecorino romano cheese, for serving

　　

Step 1

Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and red pepper flakes. Sauté until the sausage is no longer pink, breaking it up with the back of a fork, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic; sauté until the onion is tender and the sausage is browned, about 3 minutes longer. Add the tomatoes and cream. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sausage mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return the pasta to same pot. Add the sausage mixture and toss over medium-low heat until the sauce coats the pasta, adding reserved cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls if mixture is dry. Transfer the pasta to serving dish. Sprinkle with basil. Serve, passing cheese separately.

　　The Epicurious Cookbook