Description
Creamy pesto pasta with sausage delivers Italian comfort right to your kitchen. Hearty sausage, silky sauce, and perfectly twirled noodles promise a delicious meal that satisfies quickly and effortlessly.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 links fully cooked chicken sausage, sliced into ¼-inch slices
Main Pasta and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 12-ounce (340 grams) box Barilla® Pronto™ Penne
- 3 cups water
Flavor and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 6.3-ounce (178 grams) jar Barilla® Pesto sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped (optional)
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
- Additional grated parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Carefully toast pine nuts in a dry 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, gently stirring every 30 seconds until they turn a rich golden-brown color, approximately 4 minutes. Transfer the fragrant nuts to a separate plate and reserve.
- Drizzle olive oil into the same skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Sauté sliced chicken sausage until edges are crisp and caramelized, rotating pieces for even browning, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Whisk together water, heavy cream (236 milliliters / 8 fluid ounces), and pesto sauce directly in the skillet. Add entire package of pasta, ensuring each piece is coated with the creamy liquid mixture.
- Elevate heat to high, allowing pasta to simmer and absorb liquid, stirring consistently to prevent sticking. Cook for approximately 10 minutes until pasta reaches perfect al dente texture and sauce thickens.
- Remove skillet from heat source. Incorporate freshly grated Parmesan cheese (45 grams / ) and optional fresh spinach leaves, continuously stirring until cheese melts and spinach slightly wilts.
- Garnish the creamy pasta with reserved toasted pine nuts and additional Parmesan cheese, creating a visually appealing and flavorful one-pan meal.
Notes
- Toasting pine nuts unlocks their rich, nutty flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the dish.
- Use pre-cooked chicken sausage for quicker preparation and easier slicing.
- One-pan method saves cleanup time and helps ingredients develop deeper, more complex flavors.
- Heavy cream creates a luxurious, silky sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
- Fresh spinach adds a pop of color, extra nutrients, and a mild earthy taste to the creamy pasta.
- Stirring frequently prevents pasta from sticking and ensures even cooking and sauce distribution.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 640 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 46 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg