Description
This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is a one-pot wonder ready in 30 minutes. Savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce come together for an easy, comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
12 oz short pasta (penne or rigatoni)
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced (optional)
2 cups fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional, for serving)
Instructions
1. Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
2. Add diced onion to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the sausage.
4. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to submerge it in the liquid. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low.
6. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of broth or water.
7. Stir in the spinach and roasted red peppers (if using). Let the spinach wilt for 2 minutes.
8. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with extra Parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting texture.
Stir the pasta often while it cooks to prevent sticking.
For a lighter version, use chicken sausage and half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add a splash of milk or broth when reheating to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1050mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
