The heat of Calabrian chili paste, the creaminess of the sauce, and the richness of Italian sausage come together in this vibrant and luxurious pasta dish. Wide ribbons of pappardelle catch every bit of sauce, while thinly sliced fennel adds a delicate, aromatic contrast.
Whether you’re hosting a cozy dinner party or just want to spice up your weeknight meals, this dish will deliver. It’s rustic yet refined, indulgent but easy to make, and packed with flavor that lingers. Serve it with crusty bread and a glass of wine for the perfect Italian-inspired experience.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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12 oz pappardelle pasta
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
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1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
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2 tbsp Calabrian chili paste
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1/2 cup dry white wine
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1/2 cup heavy cream
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1/2 cup reserved pasta water
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1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
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Zest of 1 lemon
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2 tbsp chopped parsley
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Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions:
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pappardelle until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
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Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and fully cooked.
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Add the sliced fennel and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and Calabrian chili paste; cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
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Deglaze the skillet with white wine and let it simmer until reduced by half. Stir in the heavy cream and reserved pasta water.
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Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated. Stir in parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and chopped parsley.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with extra parmesan on top.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes
Kcal: 610 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
A Rich and Spicy Pasta You’ll Crave Again and Again
If you’re looking for a pasta dish that strikes the perfect balance between comfort food and bold culinary flair, Creamy Calabrian Chili Pappardelle with Sausage and Fennel is a must-try. This recipe brings together a flavorful mix of hearty Italian sausage, aromatic fennel, and the bold, slightly smoky heat of Calabrian chili paste, all wrapped in a silky cream sauce that clings beautifully to wide pappardelle noodles. It’s a dish that’s indulgent without being too heavy, and spicy without overwhelming the palate.
The Flavor Profile: Heat, Sweetness, and Creaminess in Harmony
At the heart of this dish is Calabrian chili paste—a spicy condiment that hails from the Calabria region of southern Italy. Known for its deep red color and intense but rounded heat, Calabrian chili paste offers a different kind of spiciness than your standard crushed red pepper or fresh chili. It’s not just hot; it’s flavorful. With subtle notes of smoke, sun-dried tomato, and vinegar, this ingredient elevates the entire sauce to something much more complex and satisfying.
Fennel, often underused in home cooking, adds a slightly sweet, licorice-like flavor that plays off the heat beautifully. When sautéed, fennel becomes tender and mellow, adding depth to the sauce. Italian sausage, especially the sweet or mild variety, rounds things out with savory richness and that comforting, meaty base that makes pasta dishes so satisfying.
Then there’s the cream. Just enough is used to tame the spice and create a luscious, cohesive sauce that clings to the ribbons of pasta. It transforms the dish into something velvety and rich, perfect for cozy nights or dinner parties alike.
Why Pappardelle is the Ideal Pasta for This Dish
Pappardelle is a broad, ribbon-like pasta traditionally used in hearty meat sauces in Tuscan cuisine. Its wide surface area and texture make it perfect for holding onto creamy or chunky sauces. In this recipe, pappardelle acts like a sponge for all the delicious elements—absorbing the chili-laced cream and bits of sausage while keeping its al dente bite.
This pasta’s elegant look also lends the dish a bit of restaurant-quality flair, even though it’s totally doable at home in under 40 minutes. If you can’t find fresh pappardelle, dried will do just fine, but always cook it just until al dente for the best texture.
How Calabrian Chili Paste Transforms Everyday Cooking
Many people are unfamiliar with Calabrian chili paste until they try it in a dish like this. One of the best things about incorporating it into your home kitchen is its versatility. Once you have a jar, you’ll find endless uses for it—from spreading a little on sandwiches, to mixing it into marinades, or spicing up scrambled eggs.
In this recipe, it becomes the primary flavoring agent in the sauce. Just a couple tablespoons are enough to give the dish a full-bodied, spicy warmth that lingers. It’s a smart way to add depth without needing a lot of other spices or seasonings.
The Importance of Balance in Spicy Dishes
Spicy dishes often get a bad rap for being overpowering or one-dimensional. But the key to great spicy food is balance. In this pasta, heat from the Calabrian chili paste is balanced by the sweetness of fennel, the richness of cream, and the umami from sausage and Parmesan cheese. A touch of lemon zest adds brightness, lifting the entire dish and preventing it from becoming too heavy.
This balance is what sets this pasta apart from other spicy cream sauces. It’s carefully calibrated to create a multi-dimensional experience. Every bite hits a different note—spicy, creamy, savory, aromatic—and no single flavor dominates the dish.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
This pappardelle dish is indulgent enough to be served as a main course on its own, but you can easily create a full Italian-inspired meal around it. A crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan makes a refreshing contrast to the creamy, spicy sauce. Add some crusty Italian bread or garlic knots to mop up any remaining sauce—it’s too good to waste.
As for wine pairings, a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or a light red like Chianti works beautifully. You want something that will cut through the richness and stand up to the spice without overpowering the dish. A sparkling Lambrusco is also a fun, offbeat pairing that brings a celebratory feel to the table.
Customization Tips for Home Cooks
This dish is incredibly versatile. You can easily tweak it to fit your taste or dietary preferences:
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Want it less spicy? Use only 1 tablespoon of Calabrian chili paste or swap it out for roasted red pepper purée for a milder version.
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Prefer a vegetarian version? Omit the sausage and add mushrooms or a plant-based sausage alternative.
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Gluten-free? Use a wide gluten-free pasta, like rice pappardelle or tagliatelle.
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Need more vegetables? Add spinach, kale, or peas during the last few minutes of cooking.
Because the core ingredients pack such strong flavor, even small tweaks will still yield a deeply satisfying result.
Make-Ahead and Storage Notes
If you’re making this dish ahead of time, the sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. Simply reheat it gently on the stove before tossing with freshly cooked pasta. The dish also reheats well the next day, though the sauce may thicken slightly. A splash of reserved pasta water or cream can loosen it back to a silky consistency.
This also makes the dish great for meal prepping or next-day lunches. Pack it into airtight containers and it’ll hold beautifully in the fridge.
A Brief Note on Regional Influence
This recipe, while modern in execution, is deeply rooted in the traditions of southern Italian cuisine. Calabria, known for its sun-dried chilies, spicy sausages, and bold flavors, inspires the heat and intensity of the dish. The use of fennel and cream is more northern Italian in character, making this dish a sort of culinary fusion that spans the peninsula.
In a way, it reflects the diversity of Italy’s food culture—where spicy coastal flavors meet rich, mountainous indulgence, and simplicity meets elegance.
Why This Dish Will Stay in Your Recipe Rotation
There are some dishes you make once, enjoy, and move on from. And then there are dishes like this creamy pappardelle that become a regular part of your cooking life. It’s bold enough to impress guests, yet easy enough to whip up on a weeknight. It’s got that “wow” factor without the complexity, and it hits all the right comfort-food notes while still feeling fresh and interesting.
More than anything, it’s the kind of dish that brings people together. Whether served at a small dinner party, cooked for a cozy date night, or enjoyed as leftovers the next day, this pasta recipe is versatile, crave-worthy, and utterly satisfying.
Conclusion: A Modern Italian Classic in the Making
Creamy Calabrian Chili Pappardelle with Sausage and Fennel is more than just another pasta recipe—it’s a celebration of bold ingredients and well-balanced flavors. It proves that spice and cream can live in harmony, that simple components can produce luxurious results, and that a well-made pasta dish can turn any evening into something special.
This is the kind of recipe that stays with you—both in memory and in your regular meal rotation. So next time you’re craving something indulgent, spicy, and deeply comforting, give this dish a try. It might just become your new favorite.