Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Are you craving a big, bold pasta dish that’s absolutely loaded with flavor and texture in every single bite? Imagine a perfect corkscrew pasta entangled with spicy sausage, tender artichokes, and sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes, all brought together in a savory pan sauce. This recipe for Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is the answer to your pasta night dreams.

This isn’t a subtle dish; it’s a robust, satisfying meal that tastes like it came from a bustling Italian-American restaurant. We build layers of flavor in a single skillet, creating a rich and chunky sauce that’s impressive enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight. Get ready to create a new family favorite.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: A Weeknight Pasta Powerhouse

The magic of this recipe is the incredible synergy between its powerhouse ingredients. The spicy sausage provides a savory, fennel-scented heat that is perfectly balanced by the tangy artichoke hearts and the intense sweetness of the sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a complete, satisfying meal that comes together with surprising ease.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	35 minutes
Active Prep Time	15 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy / Beginner
Servings	4-6

The Essential Ingredients for This Flavor-Packed Pasta

Each ingredient in this dish is a star performer. Understanding their roles is key to appreciating the final, delicious result.

• Italian Hot Sausage: This is the savory, spicy heart of the dish. Using the “hot” variety provides a wonderful background heat that infuses the entire sauce. The fennel seeds, common in quality Italian sausage, add that classic, aromatic flavor that is simply irresistible.
• Fusilli Pasta: We choose this pasta shape for a very specific reason. Its tight, corkscrew spirals are perfectly engineered to trap and hold onto all the delicious, chunky bits of sausage, artichoke, and tomato in the sauce.
• Oil-Packed Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These are a two-for-one flavor bomb. The tomatoes themselves offer a concentrated, chewy burst of sweet and tart flavor. We also use their flavorful, infused oil to start the cooking process, layering in taste from the very first step.
• Frozen Artichoke Hearts: This is a fantastic pantry staple and a brilliant time-saver. They provide a tender, slightly nutty, and tangy counterpoint to the rich sausage, without any of the difficult prep work of fresh artichokes.
• Garlic, Broth, and White Wine: This trio forms the liquid base of our pan sauce. Garlic provides the aromatic foundation, the chicken broth adds savory depth, and a dry white wine adds a touch of acidity that brightens and balances all the rich flavors.
• Parmesan, Basil, and Parsley: This is our finishing trio. Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps to thicken the sauce. Fresh basil and parsley, stirred in at the end, provide a burst of fresh, herbaceous flavor that lifts the entire dish.
• Fresh Mozzarella (Optional): While optional, this is the final touch that takes this dish from great to absolutely unforgettable. The small cubes of fresh mozzarella soften in the hot pasta, creating irresistible pockets of melty, milky, cheesy goodness.

Step-by-Step to Your Perfect Pasta Dinner

Follow these simple steps to build layers of flavor for an incredible final dish. The process is straightforward and happens mostly in one pan.

Step 1: Brown the Sausage First, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil reserved from the sun-dried tomato jar in a heavy, large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Pro Tip: To easily remove the sausage from its casing, simply snip one end with kitchen shears and squeeze the meat out, or run a knife down the length of the casing and peel it away.

Add the sausage meat to the hot pan. Cook it for about 8 minutes, using a fork or wooden spoon to break up the meat into bite-size crumbles as it cooks. Continue until the sausage is browned all over. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a bowl, leaving the flavorful rendered fat in the skillet.

Step 2: Sauté the Artichokes and Garlic Add the frozen artichoke hearts and the chopped garlic to the same skillet. Sauté them over medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. You just want to thaw the artichokes and cook the garlic until it’s fragrant and tender.

Step 3: Build and Reduce the Pan Sauce Now, pour the chicken broth and white wine into the skillet. Add the sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.

Let the sauce boil, stirring it occasionally, for about 8 minutes. This step is important because it allows the sauce to reduce slightly, which concentrates its flavor and thickens its consistency.

Step 4: Cook the Fusilli While your sauce is reducing, cook the pasta. Your large pot of salted water should be at a rolling boil. Add the fusilli and cook it according to the package directions, usually about 8-10 minutes, until it is al dente.

Pro Tip: Al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian. The pasta should be tender but still have a firm, pleasant bite in the center. Do not overcook it, as it will continue to cook slightly when you add it to the hot sauce. When you drain the pasta, do not rinse it! The starches on its surface are crucial for helping the sauce cling to it.

Step 5: Combine, Toss, and Finish Add the drained fusilli directly into the skillet with the reduced sauce. Also, add the cooked sausage back into the pan, along with the 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan, the chopped basil, and the chopped parsley.

Use tongs to toss everything together vigorously. Keep tossing until the pasta has absorbed most of the delicious sauce and everything is well combined.

If you are using it, now is the time to stir in the cubed fresh mozzarella. Season the entire dish with salt and freshly ground pepper to your taste.

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Serving and Presentation

This hearty pasta dish is best served immediately, mounded high in large, shallow pasta bowls. The vibrant colors of the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs make it beautiful on its own.

Always serve the pasta with extra shredded Parmesan cheese on the side, allowing everyone to add as much as they like. A final sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley on top of each serving adds a final touch of freshness.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes makes for fantastic leftovers. The flavors have even more time to meld together.

• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: The pasta will absorb more of the sauce as it sits. The best way to reheat it is in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to the pan to help loosen the sauce and create a bit of steam. Toss gently until the pasta is warmed through. Note that the fresh mozzarella will melt completely upon reheating, which is still delicious!

Creative Recipe Variations

This recipe is a wonderful template. Feel free to customize it based on your preferences or what you have on hand.

1. Make it Creamy For an even richer, more decadent sauce, stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup of heavy cream at the very end, after you have tossed the pasta with the sauce. Heat it through gently for a minute before serving.

2. Change the Protein If you’re not a fan of spicy sausage, you can use sweet Italian sausage instead. This recipe would also be delicious with chicken sausage or even bite-sized pieces of sautéed chicken breast. For a vegetarian version, you can omit the sausage and use sautéed cremini mushrooms instead.

3. Add a Veggie Boost This is a great dish for adding more vegetables. Try stirring in a cup of roasted red peppers along with the sun-dried tomatoes. You could also add a few large handfuls of fresh baby spinach at the very end and toss until it has just wilted.

Enjoy Your Ultimate Pasta Night!

You’ve successfully created a truly spectacular pasta dish, brimming with bold, satisfying flavors and delightful textures. This Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is the kind of meal that brings people together and makes any night feel like a special occasion.

We hope you and your family love every single bite of this incredible pasta. It’s a perfect example of how a few well-chosen ingredients can create something truly memorable.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a fellow pasta lover!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)