This cabbage sausage pasta is cozy, satisfying and absolutely delicious! With crispy bits of Italian sausage, tender cabbage and buttery lemon pasta, it’s a dish you’ll likely want to make on repeat.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Quick and easy pasta dishes are absolute lifesavers in our home for those mid-week meals and this cabbage sausage pasta is one of the latest additions to our rotation.
I particularly love it not just because it’s simple to make and absolutely delicious, but it also packs a nice nutritional punch, which is always welcome.
I mean who could say no to a dish that has crispy Italian sausage and tender cabbage all mixed in with a buttery lemon-infused pasta? I know I don’t.
Why you’ll love this cabbage sausage pasta
- Nutrient-packed with vitamins and fiber from the cabbage and protein from the sausage.
- The buttery lemon flavor is to die for!
- Super easy to make — just perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredient notes and tips
Cavatappi pasta — I like to make this cabbage sausage pasta with cavatappi because they hold this type of sauce particularly well.
Italian sausage — Mild sausage is great but if you want a bit of heat, you can use a hot Italian sausage.
Butter — Essential for that rich, buttery flavor. I use unsalted butter because there’s already enough salt from the sausage and cheese.
Aromatics — Onion, fresh fennel and garlic set up a great flavor base for the sausage cabbage pasta.
If you don’t have fresh fennel, you can skip it or use ½ teaspoon dried fennel seeds instead.
Green cabbage — Make sure you shred the cabbage finely so it cooks quickly and blends well with the pasta.
Red chili flakes — For a bit of heat; feel free to skip if you’d like your pasta dish extra mild.
Lemon juice — Freshly squeezed, always!
Parmesan cheese — Freshly grated Parmesan is best as always for both taste and texture.
Pro tip
Stir in some sour cream or creme fraiche right at the end for a creamier sauce.
How to make cabbage sausage pasta
This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. The full recipe with detailed steps is in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Get a big pot of salted water boiling and cook your pasta until it's just al dente. Don’t forget to save a cup or two of that pasta water before draining!
Heat up the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up as it browns. Once crispy, take it out and set it aside.
In the same skillet, melt the butter with the sausage drippings. Toss in the onion and fennel, cooking until they're nice and soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the shredded cabbage and a splash of pasta water to the skillet. Let it cook until the cabbage is just tender.
Stir in chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix the sausage back in, add the pasta, lemon juice, and Parmesan. Give it a good toss, top with fresh basil, and serve!
Substitutions and variations
- Add some smoked bacon or pancetta with the sausage for even more flavor.
- Make it a tomato-based sauce by adding 1-2 tablespoons of tomato paste before stirring in the cabbage.
- Make it veggie by using your favorite plant-based sausage and dairy-free butter and Parmesan.
Tips for the best cabbage and sausage pasta
- I like the cabbage well-cooked but if you’d rather have a bit of a bite, reduce the cooking time by a couple of minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with a splash of dry white wine for that restauran-quality flavor.
- Don’t forget to reserve the pasta water — the starches in it are essential for making the sauce cling to the pasta.
Leftovers and storage
- This pasta dish is best served immediately. Any leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a bit of chicken broth if needed.
- I don’t recommend freezing this dish.
If you’ve tried this cabbage sausage pasta recipe, please rate it and leave a comment below! I’d love to hear how it turned out.
And for more yummy recipe ideas, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Cabbage Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz (350 g) cavatappi pasta, or another short pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb (450 g) Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- ½ fennel bulb, finely diced
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely diced
- 1 small green cabbage head, finely shredded
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Juice of half a lemon
- ⅓ cup (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 6-8 fresh basil leaves, roughly shredded
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package until al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.12 oz cavatappi pasta
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until crispy and browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as you go. Remove the sausage and set aside.1 tablespoon olive oil1 lb Italian sausage
- Add the butter to the same skillet and allow it to melt together with the sausage drippings. Toss in the diced onion and fennel and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened.2 tablespoon butter1 medium onion½ fennel bulb
- Next, stir in the garlic and continue to cook for another minute.2 large garlic cloves
- Stir in the shredded cabbage and add half a cup of the reserved pasta water. Give it a toss, then cover the skillet with a lid and cook for 7-8 minutes until the cabbage is tender yet still has a bit of crunch.1 small green cabbage head
- Add the red chili flakes, salt and black pepper and stir to combine.
- Next, return the sausage to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.Juice of half a lemon⅓ cup Parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle the freshly shredded basil over the top and serve immediately, with some extra freshly grated Parmesan on top if you like.6-8 fresh basil leaves
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving and is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Leave a Reply