Creamy Tomato Sausage Pasta (Dairy Free)

This creamy tomato sausage pasta recipe is the perfect example of homemade comfort food in a bowl! Made with your favorite pre-cooked sausage, wholesome kale, savory mushrooms, and a creamy tomato sauce for a delicious meal that is satisfying and cozy. Perfect for family dinner or date night! Recipe is ready in 30 minutes, and is dairy free, gluten free, with vegan option.

The best dairy free tomato sausage pasta

We love a wholesome pasta-for-dinner night around here, and this creamy tomato sausage pasta truly knocks it out of the park!

It’s full of rich, savory flavors that make it feel fancy and gourmet, but all it takes to get it on the table is a little prep work and 30 minutes.

Which makes it a great candidate for nights when you’re short on time but still want to serve a well balanced meal!

And just like this Dairy Free Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Pasta or this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta it’s made without any added dairy because we’re using cashew cream instead of heavy cream.

It can also easily be made vegetarian / vegan with one simple swap I share below!

In this blog post, we’ll share the recipe, talk about the ingredients and some easy substitutions, and offer variations to make it spicy, add more veggies, or vegan.

Get ready to indulge in a cozy night in with this homemade comfort food star of a recipe!

Recipe features

• A well balanced meal: Made with your favorite pasta, chicken sausage, a variety of veggies, and cashew cream, this recipe is a wholesome and complete meal for everyone at your table!
• Super versatile: The sausage, pasta, and veggies in the recipe can easily be modified or swapped out to suit your preferences.
• Ready in about 30 minutes: Thanks to some convenient pantry items you’ll be able to get dinner on the table quickly any night of the week!
• Dairy Free and Gluten Free friendly! Cashew cream replaces the use of dairy in this pasta, and gluten free pasta is an easy swap to keep the recipe gluten free.

Ingredients and substitutions

You can find the full list of ingredients, along with measurements,in the recipe card below. These are my ingredient notes and recommendations for easy swaps and substitutions!

To make a delicious tomato cream sauce pasta, you will need the following ingredients:

Pasta

You can use any pasta you like for this recipe, though I recommend a shorter shape like fusilli, penne, rigatoni, or farfalle. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions just shy of al dente, as it will continue to cook once added to the sauce. We used this gluten free brown rice pasta.

Raw cashews

Raw cashews are the secret ingredient that makes this pasta dish creamy and delicious. Soak the cashews in water before you start cooking to save some time.

Kale

Kale adds a lovely dose of greens to this pasta dish. Before using, remove the tough stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces.

Spinach or arugula can be used instead! Just wait until the last minute or two of cooking to add it since they are more tender greens and will cook quickly.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is used to slowly sauté the sausage and mushrooms until they are nicely caramelized.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a game-changer when it comes to adding flavor and texture to meals. They are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, including pastas like this one.

We used pre-sliced crimini mushrooms to cut down on prep time. You could also use chopped portobello, shiitake, chanterelles, or oyster mushrooms.

Pre-cooked sausage

We used pre-cooked andouille chicken sausage for this recipe, but any type of sausage you like will work. For example, chicken apple sausage, Italian sausage, or a spicy jalapeño sausage would all be delicious!

I like to cut the sausage into bite-sized pieces, but you could also slice them into rounds or half-moon shapes.

Alternatively, you can use veggie sausage as a plant-based option.

Marinara sauce

Marinara sauce is the base of this recipe. You can use store-bought or homemade. We used Rao’s Classic Marinara.

Water for blending the cashew cream

You will need some water to blend the soaked cashews into a smooth and creamy sauce.

Salt and Pepper

Season the pasta dish with salt and pepper to taste. I always recommend tasting as you season because other ingredients, like the marinara and sausage, will likely already have salt added.

What spices can I add to make this pasta dish spicy?

If you like your food spicy, you can add some red pepper flakes, chili powder, or cayenne pepper to the cashew cream sauce when blending or to the marinara sauce when you add it to the skillet. Just be sure to taste the dish as you go and adjust the amount of spice to your liking. You can also use a spicy sausage for a little extra kick!

How to use raw ground sausage meat instead of fully cooked sausages

If you want to use raw ground sausage meat instead of fully cooked sausages, simply brown the meat in a separate skillet before adding it to the mushrooms. Cook the meat until it is no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks, and drain any excess oil from the skillet.

How to make

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, this pasta only takes about 30 minutes to prepare!

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Soak the cashews

In a heat-proof bowl, soak raw cashews with just boiled water for 20-30 minutes, or up to overnight. If you’re short on time, you can simmer the cashews on the stove-top for about 10 minutes until they are pale and plump.

Step 2: Cook the pasta and kale

Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than the suggested cooking time, as it will continue to cook more once added to the sauce. With about 2 minutes of cooking time remaining, add the chopped kale and stir to submerge fully. Drain pasta and kale and set aside.

Step 3: Cook the mushrooms and sausage

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and sauté until they are browned and caramelized. Add diced sausage and continue to cook until sausage has some caramelized edges. Spoon off any extra fat, leaving about a tablespoon in the skillet.

Step 4: Add the marinara

Add all but 1/2 cup of marinara to the skillet and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a low simmer.

Step 5: Make the cashew tomato cream sauce

Drain cashews and add to blender container with remaining marinara and water. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, with no pieces of cashew remaining.

Step 6: Finish assembling pasta

Add cooked pasta, kale, and cashew cream mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Return to a bare simmer to warm the pasta and thicken the sauce slightly.

Step 7: Season and serve!

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately topped with dairy free parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

Recipe variations

To switch up the flavors in this pasta, try adding some extra vegetables to the dish.

Bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli all work well and can add some extra nutrients and fiber to your meal. Simply sauté them with the sausage before adding the marinara sauce.

You can also experiment with different types of sausage to find your favorite flavor combination.

We used andouille chicken sausage, but Italian sausage would be a classic choice. Chorizo, chicken and apple, or jalapeño would also be delicious!

To make a vegan and vegetarian version of this pasta, all you have to do is leave out the sausage entirely or replace it with a plant-based sausage option.

Storage and Reheating

Once you’ve made this pasta, you may have leftovers that you want to store and reheat later. Here are some tips to help you store and reheat properly:

To store in the refrigerator: Allow to cool to room temperature and transfer to an airtight container before moving to the fridge. It should keep for up to 5 days.

To reheat: This pasta can easily be reheated in the microwave or in a small skillet over low heat on the stovetop. If you’re reheating on the stovetop I recommend adding a few tablespoons of water or broth to the skillet, covering it, and stirring occasionally until warmed through.

If you enjoyed this recipe, we’d love it if you would take 5 seconds to rate and review it below! It’s also super helpful for other readers if you share any modifications you made to the recipe. 

Thank you for sharing your kitchen with NK. We’re so grateful you’re here!

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