Creamy Sage Butter Pasta
Creamy Sage Butter Pasta is one of those simple pasta recipes that taste far more delicious than the effort required to make it. Cajun seasoning gives this dish an unexpected kick, but you can leave it out for a truly authentic Italian version.
All you have to do is toss al dente penne in a creamy sauce made with butter, heavy cream, and crispy sage, and you have an incredible dish.
Why you will love this recipe?
It is incredibly quick. Once the pasta is boiling, the dish comes together quickly. Most people have the ingredients in their pantry. The Crispy sage leaves are the best part; they have an earthy taste with a gentle aroma, creamy sauce, and plenty of Parmesan, and you get a dinner that is ready in 10 minutes.
What Does Creamy Sage Butter Pasta Taste Like?
It has a rich and savory flavor with an earthy herbal note. Butter gives the sauce a nutty taste, while the Parmesan adds saltiness and umami. The heavy cream softens the sage’s flavor, creating a smooth sauce that coats every piece of pasta.
Ingredients
Heavy Cream, Butter, Cajun spice, Sage Leaves and Pasta Water.
Penne is perfect for cream-based sauces; with ridges and a hollow center, the flavors adhere well to the pasta’s surface. Rigatoni, fusilli, tagliatelle, linguine, or fettuccine would also work well. Butter gives the pasta its rich, nutty flavor. Unsalted butter is ideal because you can control the amount of salt in the finished dish.
Fresh sage leaves are what make this recipe special. When they cook in the butter, they become fragrant and lightly crisp while infusing the butter with their earthy flavor. Heavy cream creates the silky, creamy consistency of this sage pasta sauce. It also balances the stronger flavor of the sage and Cajun seasoning.
Cajun seasoning is my twist on classic sage butter pasta. It adds smoky, savory heat and usually contains ingredients such as paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, oregano, and black pepper. If you prefer a milder pasta, use less Cajun seasoning or swap it out for cayenne pepper or paprika powder.
Don’t skip the pasta water. The starchy cooking water helps bring the butter, cream, and seasoning together while helping the sauce cling to the pasta. Freshly grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor and adds another layer of richness to the finished pasta. Grana Padano is also a good alternative.
Instructions
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a small pinch of salt. Once it is boiling, add the Penne. Cook for 8 to 9 minutes. Reserve a 1/4 cup of pasta water and set aside. The pasta water will serve as the base for the pasta sauce.
Add a dollop of butter to the pan. Butter, along with the fresh sage leaves, will add a nutty note to the pasta sauce. Once the butter has darkened in color and the sage leaves are crispy. Scoop out a few sage leaves for garnish and leave a few in the pan for additional flavor. Add Cajun spice, and let the flavors seep into the butter, infusing it.
Add the pasta water into the pan and mix with the spices. After the bubbles have formed, it’s time to add the cream. The base of the sauce will start to bubble and thicken slightly, due to the starch in the pasta water. Add the heavy cream.
As the pasta water mixes with the spices & heavy cream, it will form a creamy basis. Stir frequently so that it emulsifies. Add your pasta and mix with the Sage Butter Creamy Sauce. The sauce takes a few minutes to reach the consistency shown in the picture. Make sure to stir accordingly.
Add your favorite cheese. This is one of the easiest meals, and it it takes a short amount of time to make it, for a little extra heat, add some tabasco sauce on top of the pasta along with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese or Grana Padano.
What to Serve with Sage Butter Pasta?
This Sage Butter Pasta recipe is incredibly easy to make at home. You want to choose a quick and easy side dish to accompany it. Consider serving Garlic bread as a side dish. Citrus-Pomegranate Salad will balance the creaminess of this pasta and add a burst of flavor.
How to Store Sage Butter Pasta?
Store in an airtight Tupperware container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. This recipe can be frozen, although the quality won’t be the same unless you use a different type of pasta, such as Penne or Fusilli. It is best to make this recipe fresh. It’s so easy to make and takes about 10 minutes.
How to Make Crispy Sage Leaves?
Crispy sage is one of the easiest ways to make this pasta feel restaurant-worthy. Add fresh sage leaves directly to melted butter over medium heat and cook until crisp. The key is medium heat, not extremely high heat. Sage leaves can burn quickly, and burnt sage will taste bitter. Once crisp, remove some of the leaves before making the sauce.
Can I Use Dried Sage?
Yes, but fresh sage is my preferred choice for this recipe. Fresh sage leaves can be fried in butter until crisp, giving you both an aromatic sauce and a crunchy garnish. Dried sage is more concentrated and won’t give you the same crispy-leaf texture.
Can I Make Sage Butter Pasta Without Cream?
Absolutely. For a more traditional sage butter pasta, omit the heavy cream and use butter, sage, pasta water, and lots of Parmesan. The pasta water becomes particularly important in this version because its starch helps create a silky sauce from the butter and cheese.
Can I Add Garlic?
Definitely, for a garlic sage butter pasta, add one or two finely minced garlic cloves to the butter after the sage has started to crisp. Cook the garlic briefly before adding the Cajun seasoning. Be careful not to brown the garlic too aggressively because burnt garlic can make the sauce bitter.
Can I Add Chicken or Vegetables?
Yes. This creamy sage butter sauce works particularly well with ingredients that complement its earthy, savory flavor. Consider grilled or pan-fried chicken, Beef sausages, Sautéed mushroom or Spinach.
What Cheese Goes Best With Creamy Sage Butter Pasta?
Freshly grated Parmesan is my first choice. You can also use Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano.
Sage Butter Pasta FAQs
Is sage good with pasta?
Yes. Sage has a strong earthy, aromatic flavor that works especially well with rich ingredients such as butter, cream, Parmesan, pumpkin, mushrooms, and cheese.
Why do you add pasta water to sage butter sauce?
Pasta water contains starch released from the pasta during cooking. Adding a small amount to the sauce helps emulsify the butter and liquid and gives the sauce a smoother consistency that coats the pasta.
How do you stop sage butter from burning?
Cook the butter and sage over medium heat and watch the color carefully. You want the butter to become golden and nutty, not dark brown or black. Sage should become crisp and fragrant without burning.
Is sage butter pasta vegetarian?
This version can be vegetarian if you use a vegetarian Parmesan or hard cheese. Check the ingredients of your Cajun seasoning as well.
This creamy sage butter pasta combines fresh sage, butter, Parmesan, heavy cream and Cajun seasoning for an easy 10-minute dinner that's rich, silky and full of flavor
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 160 grams Penne Pasta
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 4 tbsp Butter
- Several leaves of Sage
- 1 tbsp Cajun spices
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a pot of salted water. Cook Penne until al dente. This step takes 8 to 9 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining.
- Make the base of the sauce: In a skillet, melt butter on medium heat. Add the sage leaves and brown until crispy. Add Cajun spice to melted butter and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stirring until fragrant. Add the heavy cream. Pour the pasta water into the skillet alongside the butter and spices. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle bubble. Stirring occasionally.
- Add the Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to a skillet with creamy sauce. Toss the pasta into the sauce and mix until coated. Allow the pasta to simmer in the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir for it to soak up the flavours. Garnish with a few sage leaves. Add a sprinkle of your favourite cheese.
Notes
For extra protein, feel free to add chicken or shrimp. Fresh herbs like basil or parsley make for a lovely garnish, and don’t forget to sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan to elevate the flavor. Choose from pasta varieties such as spaghetti, fettuccine, farfalle, or fresh options like pappardelle. It’s important to use high-quality unsalted butter, and for added flavor, cook fresh sage leaves until crispy. Remember, pasta water is essential for achieving that silky sauce consistency. For a delightful crunch, toss in some walnuts or pine nuts to finish off your dish beautifully.
Nutrition
Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 437IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 2mg
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