Hot Honey Sausage Pesto Penne Recipe
Spicy sweet hot honey sausage with tender penne pasta in a rich basil pesto sauce, accented by tangy sun-dried tomatoes, peppers and onions. Finished with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan.
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Ingredients
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Pasta & cooking liquids
Sausage & aromatics
Pesto & mix-ins
To finish
Method
Pasta & cooking liquids
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt. Cook 1 lb penne according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Sausage & aromatics
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the sausage (removed from casings) and break up with a spoon. Cook 5–7 minutes, stirring, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the sausage to a bowl and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the skillet. If the skillet is very dry, add a teaspoon more oil.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the thinly sliced onion and red bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté 5–7 minutes until softened and starting to caramelize.
Add the minced garlic, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn't burn.
Pesto & mix-ins
Reduce heat to low. Stir in 3 tablespoons basil pesto and 1 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, coating the sausage and vegetables evenly.
Pour in 3 tablespoons hot honey and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Stir to incorporate. Taste and add additional crushed red pepper flakes if you prefer more heat.
If using cream for a silkier sauce, stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream now and warm through for 1–2 minutes — do not boil. If the sauce seems too thick, add up to 1 cup reserved pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the sauce reaches a glossy, saucy consistency that will cling to the pasta.
Combine & finish
Add the drained penne directly into the skillet with the sauce. Toss vigorously over low heat to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen and coat the pasta evenly (use about 1/4–1/2 cup to start). Continue tossing 1–2 minutes until pasta is heated through and well coated.
Turn off the heat and stir in 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan until melted and incorporated. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.