Description
A rich and creamy sausage pasta dish featuring perfectly cooked penne, flavorful Italian sausage, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce enhanced with fresh baby spinach. This easy stovetop recipe comes together quickly and offers comforting flavors perfect for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Pasta
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
- 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
Veggies
- 3 oz. fresh baby spinach, tightly packed (about 3 cups)
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown sausage: Over medium heat, brown the ground Italian sausage in a large skillet for about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon. Once cooked, remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside. Carefully drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt the butter in the same pan and sauté the minced onion until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Deglaze pan: Return the cooked sausage to the pan. Pour in chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan to incorporate into the sauce.
- Add cream and seasoning: Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
- Thicken sauce: Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then add the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese melts smoothly into the sauce and the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach until it wilts and is fully incorporated into the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss to fully coat the pasta with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish out the creamy sausage pasta while hot and enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Veggies – Swap out spinach for other veggies like peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for variety.
- Make it richer – Add extra grated Parmesan cheese for a more indulgent, Alfredo-style sauce.
- Add some spice – Incorporate a few dashes of red pepper flakes during cooking to give the dish a nice kick.
- Use chicken broth or white wine for deglazing based on your preference or what you have on hand.
- Drain excess grease carefully to avoid a greasy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
