Creamy Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe (2024)

Dinner, Recipes · October 3, 2023

Thank you so much for visiting! This post contains affiliate links. That means I may receive a small amount of compensation if you choose to purchase from my links. I only link to products that I know and love.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Creamy Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe is a delicious way to cozy up with dinner. The beautiful combination of the apples with the sausage really makes this dish and it is a 30 minute meal! Save it to Pinterest now so you can make it!

I have been on a comfort food kick lately. The trees here have been changing and all the warm tones in the landscape have left me craving the kinds of foods that fill your belly and your soul. For me comfort food always includes a few things. 1. Pasta noodles. 2. Cheese. 3. Italian Sausage. This Creamy Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe has all of those ingredients all cooked up together in one beautiful dinner dish.

Combining Sausage and Apples

If you have never eaten sausage and apples together then it might sound like a strange combination to you. However, if you have eaten them together before in something like my Sausage & Apple Bake {HERE}, then you know that sausage and apples can be a magical flavor combination. The sweetness or tartness of the apples provides an incredible counterbalance to the savoriness or even the spice of the sausage.

In the case of my Creamy Apple Gouda Sausage pasta recipe, I use a sweet or mild Italian sausage. Sweet Italian Sausage still contains a touch a light spice with a lot of savory aspects. Mild will have a touch more spice. Kevin and I prefer the mild sausage but my kids prefer the sweet. You can use whichever works for your family. And if they love spice, try a spicy Italain sausage!

The delectable creamy sauce

There are two things that make the sauce creamy in my Apple Gouda Sausage pasta recipe, giving it an almost has a grown up mac and cheese kind of feel to it. The first thing is a touch of flour that the onion and apples get coated with after they have been caramelized a little bit. The second thing is the smoked Gouda cheese. Gouda cheese is my go-to fall cheese. It has a creamier, thicker consistency when it is melted and it is a very rich tasting cheese with an amazing smooth flavor.

If you prefer to keep the sauce thinner, don’t add the flour. I went back and forth on adding it when I made the Apple Gouda Sausage pasta recipe, knowing that it would really thicken it. However, I’m so glad I did. It really makes the consistency of the sauce delectable.

The sauce also includes delicious fresh herbs like sage and thyme. Don’t forget those two things or use dried herbs instead. They really provide another layer of flavor.

Picking the apples

I decided to use Granny Smith apples for the Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe. I wanted the sweetness but I also love the tartness if the Granny Smith flavor profile. It is one of the best apples you can use when baking and cooking because it doesn’t become overly sweet. That tartness helps to set it apart. Additionally, Granny Smith apples are generally firmer than some of the other apples and are less likely to become mushy in the sauce. I love that they hold their shape.

Picking the pasta

I used an Orecchiette (Or-Eh-Key-Et-tay) pasta in my Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe because I wanted something that could hold the apple pieces and the sausage. Orecchiette literally means “small ear” in Italian and the pasta does resemble small ears. It is a fun pasta to use and I was so thrilled to find it in a local Italian grocery store here. This pasta shape acts like a small cradle and holds the sauce and ingredients really well. If you cannot find Orecchiette, something like a rigatoni, penne or even a Cavatappi would work.

Tips for making my Apple Gouda Sausage Pasta recipe

This recipe cooks up fast so prep your ingredients ahead of time and have them next to you. You can make the sauce in less time then it will take the pasta water to boil and cook the pasta.
Chop the Granny Smith apples into smaller, bite-sized, square/triangle pieces. Slicing the apples or leaving them in larger pieces will take longer to cook.
Make sure to use the fresh herbs where they are called for. Fresh herbs really can make a meal.
Additionally, make sure to use sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Or you can reheat them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 7-10 minutes. Add about 1/4 cup of water or chicken broth if you are going to reheat in the oven and mix it in.

Looking for more pasta recipes or comfort food recipes?

If you are a fan of comfort food too, check out these cozy recipes.

Sausage and Kale Penne Pasta {HERE}
Sausage Biscuits and Gravy Casserole {HERE}
Cottage Pie recipe {HERE} – Often referred to as Sheppard’s Pie.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with Egg Noodles {HERE}
White Wine Dijon Chicken recipe {HERE}
Bacon and Mushroom Smothered Chicken {HERE}
Sausage and Fennel Pasta Recipe {HERE}
Apple and Sausage Breakfast Casserole {HERE}

Thank you so much for visiting today, friends! I hope you love my Creamy Apple Gouda Sausage recipe. You can find a full, printable recipe below with all the ingredients and steps. You can also find me on instagram @sugarmaplefarmhouseand@sugarmaplekitchen. Our YouTube channel is@sugarmaplefarmhouse. Happy eating!

5 from 1 vote

Equipment

1 large sauté pan
1 large pot or dutch oven for boiling pasta water

Ingredients

1 lb sweet or mild Italian Sausage, uncased or casings removed
1 cup chopped white onion
2 large cloves of grated or pressed garlic
2 Granny Smith apples Chopped into small, bite-sized pieces
3 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
4 sprigs fresh thyme
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup reserved pasta water
1/2 cup grated smoked gouda cheese + 1/4 cup for topping
Sea salt and pepper to taste.
Additional fresh thyme for topping

For the pasta

1 large pot with water
1 tsp sea salt
Pasta of choice

Instructions

Boil a large pot of salted water on the stove over high heat. When boiling, add the pasta and cook to al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before you drain the pasta.
While the water boils, heat a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat and add the Italian Sausage. Brown and then remove and set aside on a plate with a paper towel to soak up the extra grease.
return the pan to the heat and add the onions. Cook for 4 minutes and stir continuously until the onions begin to brown.
Add the garlic and the apples and butter. Cook until the butter is melted and well incorporate. Stir continuously so the butter doesn't burn. Simmer for about 1 minute once the butter has melted.
Add in the flour and mix into the apples and onions to coat. Then add 1 cup of chicken broth and deglaze the pan by scraping the brown bits.
Let them simmer down and then add another cup of chicken broth and the sprigs of fresh thyme.
Add in 3/4 cup heavy cream. Mix well and let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes on low heat.
Add the sausage back in and simmer 2 minutes. Then add in 1 cup of pasta water. Mix well.
Add in 1/2 cup smoked gouda cheese and mix well. The cheese will melt into the sauce while you mix.
Add in the pasta and mix well to combine. Top with additional fresh thyme, sea salt and pepper to taste and a little more gouda cheese. Enjoy!