Description
Creamy Sausage Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring browned Italian sausage combined with a rich, cheesy cream sauce tossed with penne pasta and fresh spinach. This easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet satisfying.
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: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente, about 11-13 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Brown sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain excess grease from the pan.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze pan: Return the browned sausage to the pan. Pour in the white wine or chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits using a wooden spoon for extra flavor.
- Make cream sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Simmer until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add spinach: Stir in the fresh baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Toss pasta: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss gently until the pasta is fully coated with the creamy sausage sauce.
- Serve: Dish the pasta onto plates and serve hot. Enjoy your creamy sausage pasta!
Notes
- Veggies – Swap out spinach for peas, sun-dried tomatoes, or mushrooms for variation.
- Make it richer – Add more grated Parmesan cheese for a thicker, Alfredo-style sauce.
- Add some spice – Include red pepper flakes while sautéing for a spicy kick.
- Use chicken broth or dry white wine interchangeably depending on preference and availability.
- Drain sausage grease well to avoid a greasy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
