Description
This Italian Sausage Pasta is a robust and creamy dinner ready in just 30 minutes. Savory browned sausage, tender pasta, and fresh spinach are tossed in a rich tomato-cream sauce for a comforting meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients
1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
12 oz rigatoni or penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes).
3. Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes to slightly thicken the sauce.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until combined and creamy.
6. Add the spinach to the skillet and stir gently until wilted (about 1-2 minutes).
7. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the sauce. If the mixture is too thick, add small splashes of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
8. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Use spicy Italian sausage for an extra kick, or sweet sausage for a milder flavor.
Don’t skip reserving the pasta water! The starch helps bind the sauce to the noodles.
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but be careful not to boil it to prevent curdling.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg