Description
This Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta is a comforting and hearty dish made with savory sausage, rich cream sauce, and tender pasta. It’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner and comes together quickly.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 300g pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 250g Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Add chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
- Lower the heat and add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Stir until the cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
- Stir in spinach (if using) and cook until wilted.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat. Use reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Use mild or spicy Italian sausage based on your preference.
- Substitute half-and-half for a lighter version of the sauce.
- Great with any pasta shape that holds sauce well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 90mg