Cream Cheese Pasta with Sausage, Squash & Onions

So I'm one of those people who when I open a bag or box of something tasty I need to finish it pronto, chocolate chips, pretzels, etc. Well this weekend I opened a new container of cream cheese for some toast and now I'm stirring it into Pasta! All I used was the cream cheese to make a nice creamy, spicy cheese sauce on a pasta, sausage and veggie dish. Boy do I love when a throw together "I think this will work" recipe actually works, and not only works...it rocks!



Cream Cheese Pasta with Sausage, Squash & Onions: Serves 4

8oz Pasta
2 Hot Italian Turkey Sausages (approx 3-4oz Each)
1 Zucchini Squash - Chopped
1 Onion - Sliced
2 Garlic Cloves - Minced
1/4tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1tsp Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
8TB Cream Cheese (I use 1/3 less fat)
1/4tsp Garlic Powder
1/2C Pasta Water (reserved before draining)

Set a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2C of the pasta water, set pasta to the side.

While the water is heating up cook the sausage until fully cooked through and then slice into small pieces and set to the side. Drain any fat from the pan, then add the olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes over medium heat and let them cook for a minute. Add the vegetables with salt and pepper and cook for 8-10 minutes until cooked through yet still with a slight crunch to them. Toss together with the pasta and sausage and mix in the cream cheese and garlic powder and allow it to melt over the noodles and veggies. If the mix is a little thick for you add a little bit of the pasta water to thin it down. I enjoyed it without adding any pasta water but could see some people wanting a thinner consistency.

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WW: 9 Points Plus / serving