Description
Creamy Sausage Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring Italian sausage, penne pasta, and a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce with fresh spinach. This hearty meal is perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
Pasta
- 1 lb. penne pasta
Vegetables
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 oz. fresh baby spinach, tightly packed (about 3 cups)
Dairy
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Liquids
- 1 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the Sausage: Over medium heat, brown the ground Italian sausage in a skillet for about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and drain excess grease.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same pan, melt butter and sauté the minced onion until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, then return the browned sausage to the pan.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in the chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom for extra flavor.
- Add Cream and Seasonings: Lower the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce. Simmer the sauce until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach and cook until it wilts into the sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss until fully coated with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish the creamy sausage pasta onto plates and serve hot. Enjoy your delicious meal!
Notes
- Veggies – Swap out spinach for peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for different flavors and textures.
- Make it richer – Add more grated Parmesan cheese for an Alfredo-like richness.
- Add some spice – Incorporate a few dashes of red pepper flakes to give the dish a spicy kick.
- Use chicken broth or dry white wine depending on taste preference and availability.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
