Looking for a simple-to-make one skillet recipe that’s both sophisticated in flavor but so easy to make? Cheesy Penne Pasta Skillet with Sausage and Shallot Cream is a recipe everyone loves and can be made with gluten-free or regular penne pasta!
When I first met my now husband I was dazzled at his skills in the kitchen. I was more of a functional eater at the time. Though appreciating good food, I lived in San Francisco and commuted an hour each way to work in Silicon Valley. By the time I got home I would scavenge for dinner or go out in my cute Russian Hill neighborhood for a bite.
My husband on the other hand would make himself dinner every night. And a good dinner. He’d self-studied Asian cuisine, had an impressive (read massive) collection of cookbooks from the known masters and more obscure chefs he’d researched. His kitchen stuff was far better than mine. He had a Kitchen Aid mixer. Granted I had a good set of pots, pans and knives but I had a hand held mixer I probably bought for about $10 as well as a mismatched set of vintage mixing bowls from various flea market trips.
The main dish I recall eating when he would cook was pasta. He bought the best brands, drew from well-known Italian chefs, making special sauces. It was always a tasty, satisfying meal (and of course much more impressive than the granola bars I probably would have eaten left to my own devices).
After becoming gluten-free the pasta came to screeching halt and was probably the first food that we feverishly began taste testing to find a suitable replacement. I could only fathom my husband’s outlook in a household free of his beloved pasta. And to add insult to injury, he is the only one in our family who is NOT gluten-free though supportively asserted that maintaining a gluten-free kitchen makes the most sense for our situation.
Though I loved his pasta, carbs are not the first thing that pop to mind for me when deciding what to cook for dinner. When he cooks he’ll often make a double batch of pasta that my kids dive into with multiple portions, relishing the leftovers both in their school lunch boxes and for subsequent dinners.
As an homage to his mad pasta skills I whipped up a simple creamy, cheesy pasta skillet that’s easy as well as sophisticated in flavor: Cheesy Penne Pasta Skillet with Sausage and Shallot Cream.
Fortunately, gluten-free pasta has evolved incredibly in the decade we’ve been gluten-free. There are multiple brands to choose from should you wish to make the recipe gluten-free. I love the shape of penne pasta though other pasta types may be substituted as well. The recipe is a full meal though can be served with a nice green salad as well.
Cheesy Penne Pasta Skillet with Sausage and Shallot Cream
Ingredients
- 1 package Penne Pasta (gluten-free or regular)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1-12 ounce package pre-cooked Chicken Apple Sausages , sliced into ½ inch slices
- 2 medium Shallots , peeled and diced
- ½ cup Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc Wine
- ½ cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- 1 1/2 tablespoon diced fresh Italian Parsley
Instructions
- Following the directions on the pasta package, bring water to a boil in a large pot for the pasta. While the water is coming to a boil, begin preparing the sauce below. Add the pasta to cook when the water has reached a boil.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until the surface is shimmering. Add the sausages and sauté until begin to brown.
- Add the shallots to the skillet and sauté until translucent and golden in color. Pour in the wine and deglaze the pan by scraping the pan bottom with a stiff spatula, releasing any cooked bits from the skillet. Lower the heat to medium, and allow the mixture to simmer, stirring periodically, until it has reduced to ¼ the original volume.
- Add the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream allowing the mixture to return to a simmer.
- Drain the pasta and add to the sauce. Stir to fully combine and allow to cook a few minutes, remove from heat and fold in the cheese. Sprinkle with the Italian Parsley as garnish. Serve immediately.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is the kind of simple meal I love to make for the family on any given night. I don’t have a lot of time, so a dish like this always makes life easier.
Patti says
This is a simple and delicious sounding combination of ingredients. I love that it is quick meal for weeknights. I have a good friend who is allergic to gluten, and I am always trying to make new dishes for her, but she is also allergic to dairy. What do you think would work as a cream substitute?
rachel ferrucci says
I love simple meals and the ingredients are right up my alley! I’ll have to try this one!
Pam says
This sounds really good. I would definitely use gluten free penne so my whole family could enjoy it. My daughter has celiac disease.
Catherine S says
This looks so yummy. Thanks for the recipe, I am going to try this with gluten free pasta.
Sarah Bailey says
Oh my goodness this post has my mouth watering what an absolutely delicious looking dish. x
Marcie W. says
This looks outstanding and would be the perfect way to welcome the weekend. I love that you make the cream sauce in the same pan that the sausage was cooked in too.
Val says
This looks like a really yummy dish to make up. Penne pasta is really good!
Brandy says
Thanks for this, I will have to make this for the family!
Liz Mays says
Oh that sounds like an awesome meal. That hint of Pinot Grigio and the delicious sausage and cheese would be great.
Susan says
This sounds like a great dinner.. I’d definitely make a green salad to go with it.
Nicole Escat says
Looks like a nice pasta dish, I never heard of shallot but will try this. My son will love this for sure!
Toni Dash says
You can find shallots with the other onions and garlic at the grocery store Nicole. It’s smaller than a regular onion and usually comes with a few shallots attached to each other. They are almost a wedge shape with a brown, papery skin and are a cross between an onion and garlic. They are great in so many recipes as they aren’t as strong tasting as an onion.
Crystal says
Pasta is my go-to comfort food, and this looks incredible. I might have to invent some kind of drama so I need this to feel comforted.
Toni Dash says
Ha, ha! Good luck with that Crystal.
Theresa says
I have never added sausage to my penne, but I know that is something my husband would love! We’re in the process of changing our eating, and I am sure going gluten-free is going to be quite difficult for us in the beginning.
Toni Dash says
Theresa there are many posts about the gluten-free lifestyle and how to handle different challenges on BoulderLocavore and all the recipes are gluten-free (usually with a gluten option). I found the challenge to be getting used to reading labels and thinking about everything we eat (which candidly is a good thing). You’ll get the hang of it before you know it.
Katherine G says
This dish looks so delicious! I think my kids would gobble this up. What’s weird is they like dinner dishes but not regular sausage.
Amy l Desrosiers says
My husband LOVE sausage so much so this meal would be great for him. I love that it has tons of cheese myself!