One-Pot Sausage and Pea Pasta with Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Creamy pasta with spicy sausage, fresh peas, and bright lemon. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, Italian sausage, frozen peas for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 500 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz penne pasta
12 oz casings removed Italian sausage
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 zested and juiced lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, adding 12 oz penne pasta and cooking for 8-10 minutes until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage and cook until browned and crumbled, about 5 minutes, then stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Add drained pasta, 1 cup frozen peas, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to the skillet. Simmer for 3 minutes, stirring, until sauce thickens. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and 2 tbsp chopped parsley until combined.