Spicy Bowtie Pasta with Smoked Sausage -

I love spicy food, and I love trying out new pasta recipes. This one has become one of my favorite spicy pasta dishes, along with Rigatoni with Spicy Sausage. This pasta dish is similar to the Rigatoni, but it uses smoked turkey sausage instead of Italian Sausage. I’ve become a big fan of smoked turkey sausage; it has the same smoky, spicy flavor as regular smoked sausage, but it has A LOT less fat, which is great. And the smoked sausage adds a different texture to the pasta that I really like. I also used pepperjack cheese to give it an extra kick. I think I could eat this pasta once a week and not get tired of it! Confession: I have eaten it once a week for the last several weeks…I can’t help myself!

Spicy Bowtie Pasta with Smoked Sausage

One 16 Ounce package of bowtie pasta, cooked to al dente (you can really use any type of pasta; I like bowtie pasta because it looks nice. )

One tablespoon of Olive Oil

One yellow onion, chopped

Two cloves of garlic, minced

One smoked turkey sausage, sliced into 1/4-1/2 inch slices

Two cups of chicken stock

One can of Ro-Tel tomatoes

One tablespoon of Cajun Seasoning; I use Tony Chachere’s. Or, you can add your own blend of seasonings to make your own Cajun Seasoning. See the recipe for Rigatoni with Spicy Sausage

1/2 Cup of cream. I have also used milk to try to lighten the dish up a bit, but the consistency just isn’t the same.

1/2-3/4 Cup of Pepper Jack cheese, shredded

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Sliced green onion, for garnish

Heat Olive Oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute for 3-4 minutes or until the onion begins to soften and become translucent. Add the smoked sausage and saute until the sausage is browned, about another five minutes.

Add the Cajun Seasoning and stir to combine. Add the chicken stock and Ro-Tel, season with salt and pepper to taste, then stir. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes or longer, if desired. Add the cream and stir to incorporate into the mixture. Add the cooked pasta and stir. Sprinkle the Pepper Jack cheese over the pasta and stir until the cheese is melted. Garnish with additional Pepper Jack cheese and green onions.