Description
This creamy sausage pasta combines savory Italian sausage with a luscious garlic Parmesan cream sauce, tender penne pasta, and fresh baby spinach for a comforting, flavorful meal ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
Pasta
- 1 lb. penne pasta
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 oz. fresh baby spinach, tightly packed (about 3 cups)
Dairy and Liquids
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground Italian sausage for about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon. Once cooked through, remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan: Return the browned sausage to the skillet. Pour in the chicken broth or white wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits and incorporate the flavors.
- Make the cream sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Wilt the spinach: Add the fresh baby spinach to the sauce and stir until the spinach wilts completely, about 2 minutes.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat all the pasta in the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish out the creamy sausage pasta hot and enjoy immediately as a comforting dinner.
Notes
- Veggies – You can swap out spinach for other vegetables like peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for variety.
- Make it richer – Add more grated Parmesan cheese to create a more decadent Alfredo-style sauce.
- Add some spice – Sprinkle in a few dashes of red pepper flakes if you want to add a touch of heat.
- Use chicken broth or dry white wine for deglazing based on your preference for flavor.
- Drain excess grease after cooking sausage to keep the sauce from becoming too oily.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
