Description
A rich and creamy sausage pasta made with Italian sausage, penne pasta, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce enhanced with fresh baby spinach. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that is quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
Pasta
- 1 lb. penne pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables
- 3 oz. fresh baby spinach, tightly packed (about 3 cups)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground Italian sausage and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spatula. When browned and cooked through, remove sausage from the pan and set aside. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Sauté onions and garlic: In the same pan, melt the butter. Add the minced yellow onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan: Return the cooked sausage to the pan. Pour in the chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
- Make the cream sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then add the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach and cook until wilted and fully incorporated into the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to ensure all pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish out the creamy sausage pasta while hot and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Veggies – Swap out spinach for peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for variety.
- Make it richer – Add extra grated Parmesan cheese for a more Alfredo-style sauce.
- Add some spice – Incorporate red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Use chicken broth or dry white wine according to preference to deglaze the pan and add depth of flavor.
- Drain pasta well but do not rinse to preserve sauce adhesion.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
