Description
Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish that combines al dente penne pasta with hearty Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a quick and comforting dinner!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, ground
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, torn, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining. Set both aside.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through (5–7 minutes). Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and sauté garlic in the skillet until fragrant (about 1 minute). Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Add heavy cream, bring to a simmer, and cook for 3–5 minutes to thicken.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Add the cooked sausage and baby spinach, cooking until the spinach is wilted (1–2 minutes). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss with Pasta: Add cooked penne to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Use reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
- Sausage: Use high-quality mild or spicy Italian sausage for the best flavor. If using links, remove the casings.
- Cream Sauce: Allow the cream sauce to simmer and thicken for a few minutes before adding cheese and spinach. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 44g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg