Description
This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is a rich and flavorful one-pan meal perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. Featuring penne pasta tossed in a luscious sauce made from browned Italian sausage, garlic, onions, Parmesan cheese, and cream, it delivers authentic Italian-American comfort food with a touch of spice and optional fresh spinach for added nutrition.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (penne or rigatoni)
Sauce and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Cook the Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and cook the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon until browned and cooked through.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom for extra flavor.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine Pasta and Spinach: Add the cooked pasta and optional baby spinach to the skillet, tossing everything together to combine and wilt the spinach.
- Adjust Consistency and Season: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese on top before serving for a final burst of flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream to reduce fat content.
- You can choose mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preferred spice level.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta instead of traditional wheat pasta.
