Description
Sausage and Spinach Pasta Delight brings Italian countryside comfort to your dinner table. Hearty Italian sausage mingles with fresh spinach and perfectly cooked pasta, creating a satisfying meal you’ll savor with every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ⅔ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Base Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) uncooked penne pasta or 2 packages of precooked microwaveable pasta (8.5 ounces/241 grams each)
- 1 ¾ cups (414 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- ¾ cup (177 milliliters) chicken broth
Herbs, Spices, and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned and drained
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and crumble the Italian sausage, cooking for 3-4 minutes while breaking it into small pieces. Incorporate finely diced onions and continue sautéing until the meat is completely golden and onions turn translucent.
- Reduce heat to low and sprinkle minced garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, ground black pepper, rosemary, thyme leaves, and crushed red pepper into the sausage mixture. Gently stir and cook for approximately 60 seconds to release the aromatic flavors.
- Meanwhile, prepare the penne pasta according to package directions, aiming for al dente texture. Drain thoroughly in a colander, ensuring minimal moisture remains.
- Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the caramelized bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in heavy cream and increase heat, bringing the liquid to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and allow the sauce to simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by half, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Lower the temperature and fold in grated Parmesan cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach leaves. Stir until the cheese melts completely and spinach wilts.
- Reunite the reserved sausage mixture with the pasta, gently tossing to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as desired.
- Serve immediately in warmed pasta bowls, garnishing with extra Parmesan cheese if preferred.
Notes
- Sausage Prep Matters: Properly browning Italian sausage with onions creates a rich, flavorful base that infuses the entire dish with deep, savory notes.
- Spice Blend Magic: The combination of oregano, fennel seeds, rosemary, and thyme transforms ordinary sausage into an aromatic masterpiece that tantalizes your taste buds.
- Cream Sauce Technique: Deglazing the pan with chicken broth and reducing the cream sauce concentrates flavors, creating a luxuriously silky texture that clings perfectly to the pasta.
- Wilting Spinach Wisdom: Adding spinach at the end preserves its vibrant color and nutrients while gently incorporating it into the creamy sauce for a fresh, balanced meal.
- Cheese Enhancement: Parmesan cheese melts seamlessly, adding a salty, nutty depth that elevates the entire dish from simple to spectacular.
- Quick Tip: For best results, have all ingredients prepped and ready before cooking to ensure a smooth, stress-free cooking experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 685 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 55 g
- Saturated Fat: 28 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg