Bucatini with Italian sausage is a truly satisfying meal that brings together tender mushrooms, a savory white wine sauce enriched with Parmesan cheese, and the vibrant burst of grape tomatoes, all elegantly finished with fresh parsley. This delightful pasta dish is perfect for any occasion, from a cozy weeknight dinner to a special gathering, and its rich, fresh flavors will undoubtedly earn it a permanent spot in your recipe rotation.
This post features a special giveaway sponsored by Fontanella Winery. My profound appreciation for the Fontanella family and my love for their exceptional wines are entirely my own sentiments.
Discover the Irresistible Charm of Bucatini with Italian Sausage
Prepare to discover your new favorite pasta dish! This incredible Bucatini with Italian Sausage recipe is designed to captivate your palate with its utterly delicious and remarkably fresh flavors. Drawing inspiration from a memorable visit to California, this dinner recipe offers a taste of sunshine in a bowl – a true comfort food masterpiece that’s surprisingly easy to prepare. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, you’ll find joy in crafting this dish that perfectly balances robust and delicate notes.
At the heart of this dish lies savory Italian sausage, expertly cooked until golden brown alongside aromatic shallots, earthy mushrooms, and a hint of warmth from red pepper flakes. Each ingredient plays a crucial role, complementing the others in a symphony of flavors that will leave you eager for leftovers. The tender texture of the bucatini pasta, coupled with the rich, creamy sauce, creates an unforgettable dining experience that feels both gourmet and homey.
Why Bucatini with Italian Sausage Is Your Next Go-To Meal
There’s an undeniable comfort and satisfaction that comes with a generous bowl of pasta, whether it’s for a hearty dinner or a satisfying lunch. This Bucatini with Italian Sausage recipe takes that experience to a new level. The tender mushrooms and sweet grape tomatoes aren’t just additions; they’re essential partners to the robust Italian sausage, creating a beautiful balance of textures and tastes. Beyond its incredible flavor, this dish also offers a welcome boost of protein, making it a wholesome choice for any meal.
I find myself craving pasta almost daily, and when that craving hits, I often revisit a select few recipes that consistently deliver. This Bucatini with Italian Sausage is not just a frequent repeat in my home; it’s a testament to its enduring appeal. It stands proudly alongside other beloved pasta creations like my Southwest Chicken Linguine, comforting Skillet Lasagna, and the surprisingly fresh BLT Pasta. What makes this particular bucatini dish so special is its perfect blend of familiar flavors with an elegant touch, creating a truly memorable culinary experience every time.
Understanding Bucatini: The Pasta with a Secret
If you’re not already familiar with bucatini pasta, also affectionately known as perciatelli, prepare to be enchanted. While it bears a resemblance to spaghetti, there are distinct differences that set it apart and make it a star in dishes like this one. For starters, bucatini is notably thicker than traditional spaghetti. But its most fascinating feature is its hollow center, a tiny tunnel running the entire length of the noodle. This unique characteristic makes bucatini an absolute champion for soaking up sauces, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor.
The hollow core also contributes to bucatini’s incredible texture – it’s tender yet retains a satisfying chewiness, making for a super pleasant mouthfeel. This robust pasta truly enriches any dish it graces. Originating from Italy, perciatelli pasta is particularly popular in and around Rome, especially in the Lazio region, where it’s cherished for its ability to transform simple ingredients into a deeply satisfying meal. Its versatility and delightful texture make it an ideal choice for heavier, cream-based, or meat sauces, as it holds up beautifully and captures every drop of the deliciousness.
Essential Ingredients for this Mouthwatering Bucatini Recipe
Crafting the perfect Bucatini with Italian Sausage requires a selection of high-quality ingredients, each contributing its unique flavor and texture to the final dish. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is vital:
- Bucatini Pasta: The star of our dish! This unique noodle, with its hollow center, is exceptionally good at absorbing every drop of the rich white wine sauce, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite. It’s crucial to cook it al dente – meaning firm to the bite – to maintain its delightful chewy texture and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Italian Sausage: Providing the backbone of savory, aromatic flavor, Italian sausage is packed with traditional herbs like thyme, rosemary, fennel, and often a touch of garlic. Choose mild or hot, depending on your preference for spice. Its rich, seasoned meat perfectly complements the creamy sauce.
- Green Onion: Sliced green onions add a fresh, pungent kick and vibrant color to the dish. They provide an aromatic layer that enhances the savory notes of the Italian sausage and brightens the overall flavor profile.
- Shallot: Often described as a delicate cross between an onion and garlic, shallots offer a milder, sweeter, and more nuanced flavor than a typical onion. Minced and sautéed, they lay an incredible foundation of authentic flavor for the sauce.
- Red Pepper Flakes: These flakes introduce a subtle warmth and a gentle kick of heat that beautifully balances the richness of the sauce and sausage. You can easily adjust the amount or omit them entirely if you prefer a milder dish.
- Mushrooms: Tender, earthy mushrooms, such as baby Bella (cremini), cook down with the meat, adding a fantastic umami depth, a meaty texture, and a welcome boost of additional protein. They absorb the flavors of the sauce beautifully, making them an indispensable element.
- Butter: Serving as the indulgent base for our creamy white wine sauce, butter contributes a rich, smooth flavor and helps create that luxuriously silky texture. Opt for unsalted butter to control the seasoning of your dish.
- Dry White Wine: This is the key ingredient that provides the unparalleled depth and sophisticated flavor to our sauce. A dry white wine, high in acidity, like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, or even a dry sparkling wine, will deglaze the pan and infuse the sauce with its complex notes, which cannot be truly replicated by any substitute.
- Heavy Cream: Essential for achieving that irresistibly creamy and luscious texture in the cheesy sauce. If you’re looking for alternatives, whole milk or half-and-half can be used for a slightly lighter consistency, though heavy cream delivers the richest result.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan cheese is crucial for its distinct salty, nutty, and savory flavors, which are absorbed by both the sauce and the bucatini noodles. Freshly grated Parmesan will melt best and provide the most intense flavor.
- Fresh Italian Parsley: A final flourish of fresh Italian parsley adds a burst of vibrant color, a refreshing herbaceous note, and a beautiful aromatic finish to the dish. Always use fresh for the best results.
- Fresh Mozzarella: Diced or small fresh mozzarella balls melt slightly into the warm pasta, adding a delightful creamy texture and mild, milky flavor. If fresh mozzarella isn’t available, an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese makes a wonderful substitute.
- Grape or Cherry Tomatoes: Added at the very end as a garnish, these sweet, juicy tomatoes provide a pop of color, a refreshing burst of acidity, and an extra layer of flavor that brightens the entire dish. Don’t skip this delightful final touch!
Step-by-Step: Crafting Bucatini with Italian Sausage
Making this delicious Bucatini with Italian Sausage is a straightforward process that yields incredibly rewarding results. Follow these steps for a perfect pasta dish every time:
- Begin by cooking your bucatini pasta. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the bucatini according to the package directions until it is al dente – firm but still chewy. Drain the pasta and set it aside, reserving about a cup of the pasta water, just in case you need it to adjust the sauce consistency later.
- While the pasta cooks, grab a large skillet (a cast iron skillet works wonderfully here for even heat distribution). Brown the ground Italian sausage over medium-high heat. As the sausage starts to cook, break it apart with a spoon. Add in the sliced green onion, minced shallots, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is about halfway cooked through and has started to render some fat.
- Once the sausage is halfway cooked and fragrant, add the baby Bella mushrooms to the skillet. Continue cooking until the sausage is no longer pink and the mushrooms have softened and released their moisture, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Next, add the stick of butter to the skillet with the sausage and mushrooms. Allow it to melt completely, coating all the ingredients and creating a rich base for your sauce.
- Pour in the dry white wine, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to deglaze and incorporate any browned bits of flavor. Let the wine simmer and cook for about five minutes, allowing the alcohol to evaporate and the flavors to concentrate. Then, stir in the heavy cream until it is fully combined with the wine and butter.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let the sauce cook for another five to ten minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce will gradually thicken as it simmers, but it’s important to stir regularly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Finally, add the cooked bucatini pasta and the fresh Italian parsley to the skillet. Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the creamy sauce and heated through. Serve immediately, generously topped with chopped fresh mozzarella cheese and halved cherry or grape tomatoes for a burst of freshness and color. Enjoy!
Expert Tips for a Perfect Bucatini with Italian Sausage
Achieving pasta perfection is easy with a few helpful pointers. Here are some essential tips to ensure your Bucatini with Italian Sausage turns out incredibly delicious every time:
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: This is arguably the most crucial tip! Overcooked pasta can become soft and mushy, losing its delightful texture. Always cook your bucatini just until it’s al dente – firm to the bite. It will continue to cook slightly when added to the hot sauce, so pulling it a minute or two before it feels perfectly done is a good strategy.
- Quality Ingredients Matter: While simple, the quality of your ingredients significantly impacts the final flavor. Opt for good quality Italian sausage, fresh herbs, and a dry white wine that you would enjoy drinking. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese makes a world of difference compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Always save some of that starchy pasta water before draining! It’s your secret weapon for adjusting the consistency of your sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, a ladleful of pasta water can loosen it up while helping it cling to the noodles.
- Deglaze for Flavor: When you add the white wine to the skillet, be sure to scrape up all the browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. These “fond” bits are packed with concentrated flavor and will add incredible depth to your sauce.
- Taste and Adjust: Don’t be afraid to taste your sauce as it simmers and adjust seasonings as needed. You might want a pinch more salt, black pepper, or even a few extra red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.
- Storage and Reheating: If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, this pasta freezes beautifully for up to six months in a freezer-safe container. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce, or reheat in an oven-safe dish in a preheated oven until warmed through.
- Perfect Pairings: This rich and flavorful pasta dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of accompaniments. Serve it alongside a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness, warm garlic bread or crusty rolls for soaking up every bit of sauce, or even a simple side of steamed green beans. And of course, a glass of your favorite wine, perhaps the Fontanella Zinfandel mentioned below, will elevate the entire dining experience!
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A Special Note from Fontanella Winery & Exclusive Giveaway!
Today’s special feature is brought to you with the generous support of Fontanella Family Winery, nestled atop the scenic Mt. Veeder in Napa Valley, California. Here, Jeff and Karen Fontanella not only live but also passionately grow their grapes and craft their exquisite wines right on site. My husband and I had the immense pleasure of visiting their beautiful winery and meeting them in October of 2018. From the moment we heard their story and tasted their wines, we were completely captivated. Their dedication to their craft and the quality of their wines are truly exceptional. Since that memorable visit, we have proudly become wine club members, a decision we cherish because their remarkable wines are not readily available in stores. You can experience the Fontanella difference by purchasing directly from their winery, through their website, or by joining their exclusive wine club.
As a special treat, Fontanella Winery is offering a fantastic giveaway! One lucky winner will receive two bottles of their highly acclaimed 2019 Zinfandel, which will be conveniently shipped directly to their doorstep. Please note that this giveaway is open to US residents only and cannot be shipped to Mississippi or Utah. These two exceptional bottles of wine are valued at an impressive $116.
But that’s not all! If you’re eager to experience their wines sooner, Fontanella has extended an amazing offer for my readers this month. Use the promo code AFFAIRHEART15 at checkout to save 15% off your entire purchase. Don’t delay – this exclusive code is only valid from March 1st to March 31st, 2021.
2019 Fontanella Zinfandel Tasting Notes:
The 2019 Napa Valley Zinfandel crafted by Jeff Fontanella is a testament to perfect structure and elegant balance. It delivers a plush mouthful of fruit, with delightful notes of caramelized raspberries, dried cranberries, and ripe cherries that pop from the glass. These vibrant fruit profiles are beautifully framed by sweet barrel notes of vanilla, warm baking spices, and a hint of rich coffee. The slightly cooler 2019 harvest season contributed to an incredible balance, full-bodied richness, and a concentrated, lingering fruit finish that makes every sip a true pleasure. This Zinfandel was an absolutely perfect companion to the spicy Bucatini Pasta, enhancing the flavors and creating a truly harmonious meal experience.
It’s my 10th Anniversary, and to celebrate, I’m giving out all sorts of amazing gifts! In addition to the two bottles of exquisite Fontanella wine, there are ten other fantastic prizes up for grabs, including a coveted KitchenAid mixer! You can read all the details about these incredible giveaway items and learn how to enter in this dedicated blog post.
ENTER TO WIN RIGHT HERE!
Click Here to Enter the Giveaway!
More Delicious Italian Sausage Recipes to Explore
If you’ve fallen in love with the robust flavors of Italian sausage in this bucatini dish, you’re in for a treat! Italian sausage is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can elevate a wide variety of meals. From hearty soups to comforting casseroles, its savory profile makes it a fantastic addition to many recipes. Here are some other delightful Italian sausage recipes from my kitchen that you might enjoy:
- Homemade Italian Meatballs (pictured above): Classic, tender, and packed with flavor, these meatballs are perfect over spaghetti or in a sub sandwich.
- Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Sausage: A comforting and quick soup, ideal for a chilly evening, combining savory sausage with tender tortellini and fresh spinach.
- Spicy Tater Tot Casserole with Sausage & Mushrooms: A fun and flavorful twist on a classic comfort food, featuring spicy sausage and earthy mushrooms under a crispy tater tot topping.
- Peppers and Onions with Sweet Italian Sausage: A timeless combination that’s simple, delicious, and perfect for a casual dinner or game day gathering, often served on a crusty roll.
Each of these recipes showcases the incredible versatility and deliciousness of Italian sausage, offering something for every palate and occasion. Enjoy exploring these savory creations!
Now that you have all the inspiration and instructions, why not make some Bucatini with Italian Sausage tonight and perhaps uncork a bottle of that exquisite Fontanella Zinfandel? Cheers to delicious meals and wonderful memories! 
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Print Recipe
Bucatini with Italian Sausage
Equipment
- Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25″, Black
Ingredients
- 1 pound Bucatini pasta cooked al dente
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 bunch 8 pieces green onion, sliced
- 1 small shallot minced (about 2 Tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 16 ounces baby Bella mushrooms
- 1 stick of butter 1/2 cup
- 1 cup dry white wine I used Chardonnay
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces Parmesan cheese grated + more for serving if desired
- 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley
- Fresh mozzarella cheese and halved cherry or grape tomatoes for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage with green onion, shallots and red pepper flakes.
- When the meat is about halfway cooked, add in mushrooms. Continue cooking until meat is no longer pink.
- Add in the stick of butter and let it melt.
- Add in the wine and cook for about 5 minutes. Pour in cream.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, reduce heat to simmer and let cook for about 5-10 minutes, sauce will thicken, be sure to stir it so it doesn’t stick.
- Add in cooked Bucatini and fresh Italian parsley, stir together and serve when it’s heated through, topped with chopped fresh mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes.