Description
A rich and creamy sausage pasta made with Italian sausage, tender penne pasta, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce infused with garlic, onions, and fresh baby spinach. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
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 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 Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the ground Italian sausage, breaking up any clumps with a spoon, about 5 minutes. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside, draining any excess grease from the skillet.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same pan, melt the butter and sauté the minced onion until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant. Return the cooked sausage to the pan.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour in the chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom with a spoon to enhance flavor.
- Prepare Cream Sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream. Season the mixture with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
- Add Cheese and Thicken Sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes smooth. Let it simmer gently until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Wilt Spinach: Add the fresh baby spinach to the sauce and stir until wilted and evenly incorporated.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss gently until the pasta is fully coated with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish out the creamy sausage pasta while hot and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Veggies – You can swap baby spinach with peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for variety.
- Make it richer – To create a more Alfredo-style sauce, add extra grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add some spice – Incorporate red pepper flakes if you prefer a spicier dish.
- Use either chicken broth or dry white wine for deglazing depending on your taste preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: thirty five g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
