Creamy Chorizo Pasta

At our place we eat most meals together at the dinner table as a family, but it’s comfort meals like this Creamy Chorizo Pasta that are just made for curling up on the lounge with! This is the perfect family weeknight dinner to make when times are busy, yet you still want something comforting and delicious to eat without spending hours in the kitchen. But it’s also a lovely quick weekend supper to eat while watching a family movie for a special experience.

This speedy pasta is made with only a handful of ingredients in just 20 minutes. The chorizo is the perfect way to bring an incredible depth of flavour to the dish quickly, especially when paired with the creamy garlic, sundried tomato and parmesan-filled sauce. It really is the perfect marriage of flavours!

I love serving this pasta with a big bowl of steamed greens or a fresh salad with a zingy balsamic dressing. This pasta recipe is delicious, quick and easy, low-cost and filling, and definitely one to try on your next meal plan rotation! Even better, you can freeze it and the leftovers taste even better the next day, so make a big batch.

Can creamy pasta be frozen?

Yes! I like to take a conservative approach and freeze my creamy pasta recipes for up to 2 months to ensure the pasta is still at its best once defrosted. It’s also important to completely thaw the pasta in the fridge overnight prior to reheating. Not thawing = mushy pasta (which I have done many times in the past when I have needed something for dinner fast!). You may find the sauce is less creamy and more oil-based once reheated, as the oils in the cream separate. Although texturally different, the result is equally delicious!

What can I serve with Creamy Chorizo Pasta?

This is a rich and flavoursome meal, so it’s great to serve with simple greens on the side. My favourite choice is a Green Leafy Salad with Balsamic Dressing, but simple steamed greens like broccoli, brocolini (tenderstem broccoli), green beans or sugar snap peas would also be great.

Can I adjust the spice levels?

Yes. You can buy milder or hotter varieties of chorizo to suit your taste. If your household has hot chilli fans, then you could drizzle some chilli oil on individual portions or add ½ teaspoon crushed chilli (red pepper) flakes to the sauce.

What are some other super quick and tasty creamy pasta dishes?

If you enjoyed this Creamy Chorizo Pasta I think you’ll also love:

Creamy Sausage Pasta
Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta
Spaghetti Carbonara
Garlic Butter Prawn (Shrimp) Linguine
Creamy Lemon Tortellini

Creamy Chorizo Pasta

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5 from 6 reviews

This Creamy Chorizo Pasta is one of the easiest, satisfying and most delicious meals you can make. Filled with flavour-packed chorizo and teamed with a creamy, garlicky sauce, this is a recipe you are going to want to make again and again!

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 300 g (101/2 oz) short pasta (mafalde pictured, but you could use penne, macaroni or rigatoni)
• 200 g (7 oz) chorizo (about 2 chorizo sausages), roughly diced
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
• 1 tbsp tomato paste (concentrated puree)
• ½ cup (75 g) sundried tomatoes, finely chopped (optional)
• 1½ cups (375 ml) thickened (heavy) cream
• 1 cup (100 g) freshly grated parmesan, plus extra to serve
• Salt, to taste
• Cracked black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, less 1–2 minutes (the pasta will finish cooking in the sauce). Reserve 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta, rinse under cool running water and set aside. 
2. Meanwhile, heat a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan over medium–high heat. Cook the chorizo for 3–4 minutes until crispy and golden – you don’t need to add oil as the chorizo will release its own flavoursome oil. 
3. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes until softened. 
4. Stir through the tomato paste and sundried tomatoes (if using) for 1 minute. 
5. Add the cream, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has slightly thickened. 
6. Stir through the parmesan, then season to taste with salt and pepper (I find I only need a very small amount of salt – about 1/4 teaspoon – as the chorizo and parmesan are already very salty). 
7. Add the cooked pasta and the reserved pasta water. Toss the pasta through the sauce for 1–2 minutes to finish cooking.
8. Sprinkle with extra parmesan and serve.

Equipment

Large Wooden Spoon

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Staub Chistera

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Notes

MAKE AHEAD

Creamy Chorizo Pasta is the perfect recipe to make ahead, ready for when you need it! Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container or freeze for up to 2 months. For best results (and to avoid mushy pasta!) ensure you thaw the pasta in the fridge overnight prior to reheating. Creamy pastas do separate once refrigerated or frozen, which means the texture of the sauce will be less creamy and more oil-based, but it will still be equally delicious!

LEFTOVERS

Creamy Chorizo Pasta can be enjoyed as leftovers the next day. See the make-ahead instructions above for how to store your leftovers.

• Author: Nicole
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Category: Main dish
• Method: pan
• Cuisine: Italian