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Saucy Sausage and Lemon Pasta

A quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring sausage and a bright lemon kick, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sausage
  • 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, etc.)
  • 1 pound ground sausage (pork, chicken, turkey)
Flavoring and Garnish
  • 1 each lemon (zest and juice)
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil Adjust based on preference
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Pre-grated is acceptable
  • 1/2 cup pasta water
  • Salt and pepper To taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  3. Crumble the ground sausage into the skillet and cook until golden brown, breaking it up into small pieces.
  4. Add chopped garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant.
  5. Before draining, reserve some pasta water (about 1/2 cup).
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sausage, along with lemon juice, zest, a splash of reserved pasta water, and most of the Parmesan cheese.
  7. Toss everything together until well combined. Adjust with more pasta water as needed to achieve a glossy sauce.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with more lemon juice or Parmesan if needed.

Notes

For variations, you can substitute sausage with mushrooms for a vegetarian option, or add greens like spinach or peas. For a creamy texture, stir in a dollop of cream cheese.