Imagine you’re late leaving work. Traffic is terrible. It’s cold and drizzling. By the time you walk in the door you want nothing more than a hot bath, a soft robe, and something creamy, quick, and comforting for dinner. Hellooooo Sausage Alfredo Skillet Dinner! Ahhhh……
Sausage Alfredo Skillet Ingredients
One of the things I love about this recipe, besides the comfort food factor, is the short list of simple ingredients!
- Alfredo Sauce is what makes this so easy. It’s so creamy and delicious! I make my own Alfredo sauce once in awhile but I save time by using a good commercial Alfredo.
- Shell pasta or any shaped pasta that will hold the sauce well.
- Onion adds color, texture, and lots of flavor.
- Butter can be salted or unsalted – your choice.
- Smoked sausage, Kielbasa, or whatever you prefer.
- Mozzarella cheese is the perfect finish, adding a gooey aspect to the creamy dish.
Quick Comfort Food That’s Simple
When you need quick, creamy comfort food you’ll love this easy Sausage Alfredo skillet dinner!
Caramelized onions, smoked sausage, and cooked shell pasta are stirred together with Alfredo sauce then topped with Mozzarella.
After a few minutes under the broiler the dish comes to the table steaming; bubbling hot with a golden brown, crispy-cheesy crust. Your family will love it!
We All Need Comforting Once in Awhile
A Caribbean vacation in the first week of January sounds like a great idea until you come home to snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. Thanks a lot, Texas.
I came home from vacation with some sort of respiratory infection that’s left me exhausted, a backlog of work that’s piled up more than anticipated, colder than normal temperatures, and a heater with a loose wire that only works when all the planets are in the proper alignment.
Since it’s too cold to throw peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the family and call it dinner I’ve been thankful for quick and easy dinners like this.
I mean, when it’s cold and blustery who wouldn’t want to come home to creamy comfort food?
Recipe Tips
This is such a great dish – here are some tips to make it ever better!
- You can assemble this up to a day ahead of time and then just shove the whole thing in the oven for about 30 minutes if the idea of cleaning up after dinner is overwhelming.
- Using an iron skillet allows you to put the whole thing in the oven to crisp up the top.
- Don’t let the sauce come to a boil – it can separate a little. Heat it at a simmer.
- Save time by buying chopped onions or chopped onions and Bell peppers in the produce section of your store.
Variations
One of the things I absolutely adore about this easy dinner recipe is the number of possible variations. Here are some of my favorites – but don’t be afraid to experiment to find your own.
- I like to use spicy smoked sausage because it’s a nice contrast with the creamy sauce.
- Try cooked Italian sausage instead of smoked sausage – either sweet or hot (or a mixture of the two!).
- Of course, cooked, leftover chicken is delicious in this dish.
- Add green and red Bell peppers in the pan when you are sautéing the onions for both color and flavor.
- Mix up cultures with the addition of some poblano pepper or a little jalapeno.
- A few handfuls of fresh, baby spinach is good in this dish.
- I like shell pasta because it collects the sauce but penne pasta, fusilli, farfalle, and rotini are good, too.
- Use smoked Provolone instead of Mozzarella on the top before broiling.
- If you happen to have some cooked broccoli, peas, green beans, or whatever – toss it in.
- Use cooked chicken or turkey in place of the sausage. Make it FAST by picking up a rotisserie chicken at the store!
- Cheese tortellini works well in this recipe.
- Add some crushed red pepper for heat.
- Chopped pimento is a delicious addition.
Quick and Easy Menu Ideas
If you are anything like me, and I bet you are, you’re mind goes blank when you’re in a hurry.
I end up throwing dinner on the table and yelling over my shoulder as I slink out of the room, “cut up some lettuce to have with it”.
Here are some quick and easy menu ideas when this comforting smoked sausage recipe is your main course:
- Sliced tomatoes with Italian vinaigrette, 30 minute garlic bread or bread from the grocery store, melon slices
- Steamed, buttered broccoli, hot Italian bread, chocolate cobbler (microwave in minutes)
- Green beans sauteed with garlic, brown and serve rolls, ice cream
- Mixed baby lettuce greens with mandarin orange slices, purchased bread sticks, cookies
If you’d like a wine to serve with this dish I’d recommend a Pinot Bianco, Reisling, or Pinot Grigio. If you’re more of a beer person a craft IPA really works.
Easy Sausage Alfredo Skillet Dinner Recipe
Creamy Alfredo sauce, tender pasta, sweet onions, spicy smoky sausage, gooey Mozzarella – this dish is Italian style comfort food that the entire family will love.
It’s done is 20 minutes or less, too. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Smoked Sausage Alfredo Skillet Dinner
Print Add to CollectionEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shell pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
- 15 ounces Alfredo Sauce, commercial or homemade
- 1 cup Mozzarella, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler.
- Cook the pasta 10 minutes in salted boiling water to cover, or as directed on package.
- Drain.
- Meanwhile melt the butter in a heavy, 12-inch iron skillet.
- Add the chopped onion and saute about 3 minutes.
- Add the sausage and continue to saute, stirring often, about 2 more minutes or until the onion is golden and soft.
- Stir in the drained pasta and the Alfredo Sauce.
- Sprinkle with Mozzarella.
- Place under the broiler for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can assemble this up to a day ahead of time and then just shove the whole thing in the oven for about 30 minutes if the idea of cleaning up after dinner is overwhelming.
- Using an iron skillet allows you to put the whole thing in the oven to crisp up the top.
- Don’t let the sauce come to a boil – it can separate a little. Heat it at a simmer.
- Save time by buying chopped onions or chopped onions and Bell peppers in the produce section of your store.
- I like to use spicy smoked sausage because it’s a nice contrast with the creamy sauce.
- Try cooked Italian sausage instead of smoked sausage – either sweet or hot (or a mixture of the two!).
- Of course, cooked, leftover chicken is delicious in this dish.
- Add green and red Bell peppers in the pan when you are sautéing the onions for both color and flavor.
- Mix up cultures with the addition of some poblano pepper or a little jalapeno.
- A few handfuls of fresh, baby spinach is good in this dish.
- I like shell pasta because it collects the sauce but penne pasta, fusilli, farfalle, and rotini are good, too.
- Use smoked Provolone instead of Mozzarella on the top before broiling.
- If you happen to have some cooked broccoli, peas, green beans, or whatever – toss it in.
- Use cooked chicken or turkey in place of the sausage.
- Cheese tortellini works well in this recipe.
- Add some crushed red pepper for heat.
- Chopped pimento is a delicious addition.
Nutrition
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Jennifer
What do you mean it’s too cold to do PB&J? When it’s that cold, YOU TOAST THE BREAD FIRST. Problem solved. 🙂
Marye Audet
HA!!! I love it.