Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe (2024)

Thank you so much for visiting! This post contains affiliate links. That means I may receive a small amount of compensation if you choose to purchase from my links. I only link to products that I know and love.

This Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe is a cozy pasta recipe to begin the fall season. Packed with savory sausage and caramelized fennel, the two flavors come together into a beautiful dish that is perfect for family dinners. Save this to Pinterest now so you can make it!

Our weather has turned downright chilly. Today it was in the 40’s when we woke up and the house is at 65 degrees. Kevin is refusing to turn the heat on because he says it is going to warm up. It is, but I’m currently sitting here wrapped in a blanket burrito trying to focus to write this blog post. I’m wishing I had a big bowl of this Sausage and Fennel Pasta to help, but, we ate it all because it is impossible to make this and not want to devour it.

Cozy Fall Pastas

Cozy fall pastas are my favorite kinds of pastas. Don’t get me wrong, spring flavors are fun and simple, summer pastas are lovely too. But I’m an autumn girl through in through. From the weather, to the clothing to the food, all the fall things make me happy. And fall pasta recipes are those special kind of recipes that make me feel cozy, nostalgic and provide some of the best flavor a pasta lover could ask for.

While it is still early fall here, I thought I would kick off the fall pasta season with this delightful and savory Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe.

What is Fennel?

Fennel is a cool-weather vegetable and generally starts showing up in grocery stores September through the winter and into early spring. It can grow all through the winter season in some of the gardening zones like 7, 8, 9 and 10. It is a native Italian plant and is eaten regularly in Italy where it is cooked and eaten raw. Fennel seeds are often an ingredient in sausage and an ingredient in Indian food. It has a slightly licorice-like flavor, which can be a turn off for most home cooks. However, when fennel is caramelized in roasting or in sautéing like it is in my Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe, it loses a lot of that flavor and instead gains a little savory sweetness. It almost has a caramelized onion kind of flavor except the vegetable itself is firmer.

Cutting fennel

Fennel is a bulbous vegetable. It has a round bottom, similar to an onion and then a firm stalk that is similar to celery. The very top of it tends to resemble dill. Technically it is all edible but the stalks are very tough. For my Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe I will cut off the tops and use just the bulb. Remove the very bottom of the bulb and possibly one or two of the outer “leaves” of the bulb itself. Then, slice the bulb like you are slicing an onion.

When measuring this, I will stand the slices up in the cup and pack them in. Probably a little unorthodox, but oh well. 🙂

Simple and quick family dinner

Once of my favorite things about this recipe is how quick it is to make it. You can make the whole meal in about 30 minutes or less. The cook time is actually about 20 minutes but chopping the ingredients will take some time too. Usually I start the water boiling for the pasta and then begin with the sausage and what will make the sauce for the Sausage and Fennel Pasta.

Ingredients in my Sausage and Fennel Pasta

To begin, I start this recipe with Sweet Italian Sausage. It is the base of the recipe and works in a deliciously beautiful way with the other ingredients. It flavors the dish without being overpowering and it really compliments the fennel. You can also use Mild Italian Sausage, which is a little spicier.

The sausage gets cooked first and then removed from the pan. Next a little extra virgin olive oil is added along with shallots and the fennel. The fennel begins to caramelize right along with the shallots in the leftover fat from the sausage. This cooks down for 4-5 minutes until everything softens. Then I add a little garlic and butter to help everything achieve a better caramelization. I then use white wine to deglaze the pan, a little chicken broth, a touch of cream, sage and thyme. After seasoning it with sea salt and pepper to taste, the sausage is adde back.

Next a little pasta water is mixed in before I turn the flame off and gently stir in the pasta and kale. As a final step, I mix in some smoked gouda cheese. And let me tell you, YUM!

Tips for making my Sausage and Fennel Pasta

• As usual, please make sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
• I use rigatoni as the pasta noodle in this recipe. I love the way that it ends up being about the same size as the fennel and still holds the sauce well within the noodle itself. My kids also love these noodles and call them “pool noodles” because they are shaped like a swimming pool noodle.
• I recommend using a dry white wine for the Sausage and Fennel Pasta. I like a Pinot Grigio. If you don’t want to use wine you could substitute for more chicken broth.
• The kale in this recipe gets mixed in at the very end. You might have to add it one cup at a time because it is very voluminous before it wilts. If you don’t like kale, try adding spinach instead.
• This recipe cooks up fast so I would recommend chopping all the vegetables ahead of time and measuring everything out. This will make it very easy as you move along.
• Since we are using Italian sausage, chicken broth and salty pasta water, I don’t find a need to season with more salt and pepper while cooking. However, a little sea salt and fresh cracked pepper on each of the final bowls is always an easy way to bring out all the flavor a little more!
• As far as saving and storing, you can save my Sausage and Fennel Pasta recipe for up to four days after you make it. Put it in an air tight container and add it to the refrigerator.
• To reheat it, add it to a bowl in the microwave in 30 second to 1 minute bursts. Or you can reheat it in the oven at 350 degree for about 10 minutes. Make sure to mix it in between reheating so the pasta doesn’t dry out.

Looking for more cozy pasta recipes?

If you are looking for a few other cozy season pasta dishes your family will love, try these!

• Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Pappardelle {HERE}
• Roasted Roma Tomato Sauce {HERE}
• Garlic Ricotta Arugula Pasta {HERE}
• Skillet Lasagna {HERE}
• Tortellini Alfredo with Pancetta {HERE}

Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you love my my Sausage and Fennel Pasta. You can find a full, printable recipe below with all the ingredients and steps. You can also find me on instagram @sugarmaplefarmhouseand@sugarmaplekitchen. Our YouTube channel is@sugarmaplefarmhouse. Happy eating!