Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Serving Size: 8
Cook Time: 30 minutes & Prep time: 10 minutes
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Calories: 710 | Protein: 21 g | Carbohydrates: 40 g | Fat: 40 g | Sodium: 600 mg
Ingredients:
1 lb Penne Pasta
1 lb Italian Sausage
½ Yellow Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 tbsp Olive Oil
½ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
½ tsp Fennel Seeds (optional)
2 cups Cream
½ bag of Baby Spinach, or measure with your heart
1 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded
¼ cup Pasta Water, reserved
Instructions:
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Use just enough water to fully submerge the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the package directions recommend for al dente (for example, if the package says 11 minutes, cook for 10 minutes). Before draining, reserve ¼ cup of pasta water.
Cook the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, remove the sausage from its casing. Heat the oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and fennel seeds. Break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks and continue cooking until browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside. Carefully dab or drain any excess oil from the pan.
Make the Sauce: Using the same pan, add the cream and stir continuously until it begins to simmer. Add the parmesan cheese and stir until fully melted and incorporated. Gradually add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Keep in mind that the sauce will be thinner at this stage and will thicken as it combines with the pasta.
Add the drained pasta to the sauce and reduce the heat to low. Cover with a lid and let it sit for about 1 minute, allowing the pasta to absorb some of the sauce.
Bring It Together: Add the spinach and gently fold it into the pasta until wilted. Add the cooked sausage back to the pan and toss everything together until well combined. Serve immediately.
Special Note
You can also use ground Italian sausage, which is typically already seasoned. If using seasoned sausage, adjust the additional salt and seasonings to taste.
Pasta water serves an important purpose in the sauce. The starch released from the pasta helps thicken the sauce and brings the ingredients together, creating a smooth, cohesive sauce that clings to the pasta.
