Paula Deen Dude’s Pasta

Paula Deen Dude's Pasta is a creamy, hearty sausage pasta with sweet Italian sausage, mushrooms and heavy cream over bow ties that comes together in 30 minutes. Try this easy weeknight pasta dinner for cozy Sunday suppers, fall gatherings or potluck night, since it's one-skillet friendly and feeds a crowd.

Let the tomatoes simmer until they thicken before the cream goes in, because the sauce needs that body to cling to the bow ties. Add the cream too early and you end up with a thin, watery sauce that slides right off the pasta.

Paula saves the nutmeg and parsley for the very last minute, right after the pasta gets tossed with the sauce. A little freshly ground nutmeg warms up the cream and sausage without tasting like a spice, and the parsley keeps its bright color.

Paula Deen Dude's Pasta

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Course: DinnerCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

780

kcal

Browned sausage, soft mushrooms and tomatoes simmer into a rich cream sauce that coats every bow tie. A pinch of fresh nutmeg and chopped parsley go on right before serving.

Ingredients

• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
  

• 1 lb mushrooms, sliced
  

• 1 to 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  

• 1 small onion, chopped
  

• 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
  

• 1 pint heavy cream
  

• freshly ground nutmeg
  

• 1 lb bow tie pasta, cooked
  

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped (for garnish)
  

Directions

• Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 lb sweet Italian sausage with the casings removed. Brown it while breaking it up with the back of a spoon.
• Cook the vegetables: Add 1 lb sliced mushrooms, 1 to 2 cloves chopped garlic and 1 small chopped onion to the skillet. Cook until softened, adding a bit of olive oil if the pan looks dry.
• Simmer the tomatoes: Pour in the 14.5-oz can of diced tomatoes. Let them simmer until the sauce thickens.
• Add the cream: Stir in 1 pint heavy cream and let it simmer together with the thickened tomatoes. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss the pasta: Add 1 lb cooked bow tie pasta to the skillet. Toss until every piece is coated in the sauce.
• Finish and serve: Just before serving, grate in a bit of fresh nutmeg and stir in 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley. Serve it with crusty bread, and a glass of Beaujolais if you like.

Tools for this recipe

• Lodge 10.25-inch cast iron skillet, OXO wooden spoon set, OXO 5-quart stainless steel colander. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I make Dude's Pasta without the cream?

Yes, Paula gives an alternate version that leaves out the cream and nutmeg. Instead, you add a second can of tomatoes and 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar to taste, which makes a lighter red sauce.

Can I use hot Italian sausage instead of sweet?

You can, and it works well if you like a little heat. The cream mellows the spice, so the sauce stays balanced.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of cream or milk, since the sauce tightens up as it sits.

Can I use a different pasta shape?

Penne, rotini or shells all work because they catch the chunky sauce. Bow ties are the original, though, and they hold the sausage and mushrooms nicely.

Why add the nutmeg at the end?

Nutmeg loses its aroma quickly when it cooks for a long time. Grating it in right before serving keeps that warm, fresh flavor with the cream and sausage.