Description
This creamy sausage pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring Italian sausage cooked to perfection and combined with a luscious cream sauce, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes. It’s a quick and easy meal perfect for weeknights, delivering a rich, cheesy indulgence with a touch of freshness from herbs and veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (such as penne or fettuccine)
Sausage and Meat
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, as preferred)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water following the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving half a cup of the cooking water, then set both aside.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked through. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Onions: In the same skillet, add the finely chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the onions and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant, stirring frequently.
- Deglaze with Broth: Pour in the chicken broth to the skillet, scraping the bottom with a spoon to lift any browned bits, enriching the flavor of the sauce.
- Simmer Cream Sauce: Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the heavy cream. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add Vegetables: Toss in the halved cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach leaves. Cook until the spinach wilts and tomatoes begin to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Combine Sausage: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, stirring well to blend all ingredients together evenly.
- Mix Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
- Season: Taste the pasta and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed to enhance the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the pasta before serving for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- Use either sweet or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preference for heat.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without thinning out the flavor.
- For a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a milk and cream mixture, but note that the sauce may be less thick.
- Fresh Parmesan cheese melts better and enhances the sauce’s creaminess.
- The dish can be easily doubled to serve more people.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
