Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta with Italian Sausage
This creamy tomato and spinach pasta with Italian sausage is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet or Dutch oven
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta penne, rotini or fusilli recommended
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage mild or hot, casing removed
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 ounce
- 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or milk for a lighter version
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes optional, for a kick
- Reserved pasta cooking water as needed
Instructions
Cooking Pasta
- Boil salted water and cook pasta according to package directions; reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Preparing Sausage and Sauce
- Heat olive oil, brown Italian sausage, and drain excess fat.
- Sauté diced onion with the sausage, then add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes and broth, simmer for 5-10 minutes to meld flavors.
- Stir in heavy cream and fresh spinach, allowing the spinach to wilt into the sauce.
Combining and Serving
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss to coat.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, adding reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, then serve immediately with extra Parmesan.
Notes
For a richer sauce, use heavy cream; for a lighter option, milk can be substituted. Don't forget to reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed. If you enjoy a bit of heat, add extra red pepper flakes to taste.