Description
A rich and creamy pasta dish featuring savory Italian sausage, tender penne, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce with fresh spinach. Perfect for a quick and satisfying 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: Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground Italian sausage for about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a spoon. Once cooked through, remove the sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt the butter in the same pan and sauté the minced onion until soft, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze Pan: Return the cooked sausage to the pan. Pour in the chicken broth or dry white wine to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet to add flavor.
- Add Cream and Season: Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer.
- Melt Cheese & Thicken Sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and continue to simmer the sauce until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach and cook until it wilts and incorporates well into the sauce.
- Combine Pasta & Sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish the creamy sausage pasta onto plates and serve hot. Enjoy your hearty and flavorful meal!
Notes
- Veggies – Substitute spinach with peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for a different flavor and texture.
- Make it richer – Add extra grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce for a more indulgent, Alfredo-like experience.
- Add some spice – Introduce a few dashes of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy kick.
- Use chicken broth or white wine interchangeably depending on preference and availability.
- Drain excess sausage grease carefully to avoid a greasy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
