Spicy, Creamy Sausage and Pasta Shells

Creamy and Spicy Pasta Shells and Sausage – savory smoked sausage sautéed with bell peppers until nicely browned, then smothered in a creamy Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese sauce with pasta shells, spiced up by red pepper flakes!

Creamy sauce, pasta, and spicy sausage go great together.

It’s an easy recipe, but it’s very important to use the right kind of sausage.   Use savory (NOT SWEET) smoked sausage without any sweetness added to it. Italian spicy smoked sausage is great too.

Enjoy!

4.41 from 5 votes

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Spicy Sausage and Creamy Pasta Shells

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

Creamy and Spicy Pasta Shells and Sausage - savory smoked sausage sautéed with bell peppers until nicely browned, then smothered in a creamy Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese sauce with pasta shells, spiced up by red pepper flakes!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 575 kcal

Author: Julia

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 green bell pepper , chopped
• 1 red bell pepper , chopped
• 7 oz smoked sausage , sliced
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese , shredded
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese , shredded
• 8 oz pasta shells
• salt

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chopped bell peppers, sliced smoked sausage, and red pepper flakes and cook for several minutes, occasionally stirring, until the peppers soften, and the sausage starts to brown.
2. Add half and half to the skillet and bring to boil. Add shredded Parmesan and shredded Mozzarella cheeses to the skillet, and keep stirring until the cheese starts to melt. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue stirring until all the cheese melts.
3. In the mean time, cook pasta according to the package instructions, drain.
4. Add cooked pasta to the skillet, stir everything in. Taste, add more salt and extra crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Spicy Sausage and Creamy Pasta Shells

Amount Per Serving

Calories 575 Calories from Fat 279

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 31g 48%

Saturated Fat 13g 65%

Cholesterol 77mg 26%

Sodium 740mg 31%

Potassium 435mg 12%

Total Carbohydrates 49g 16%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 3g

Protein 23g 46%

Vitamin A 29.3%

Vitamin C 75.7%

Calcium 30.1%

Iron 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.