Description

This Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish made with Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a luscious garlic parmesan cream sauce. It’s the perfect comfort food, ready in under 30 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy dinner at home.

Ingredients

Units Scale

12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your favorite)
1 lb (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (in oil), drained and chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups fresh spinach
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a spicy kick)
Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
Cook the sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the Italian sausage. Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon. Remove excess grease if needed.
Sauté the aromatics: If the pan is dry, add a bit of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add sun-dried tomatoes: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
Make the sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Add the heavy cream, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir until the sauce is creamy and the cheese has melted.
Combine: Add the cooked pasta and fresh spinach to the sauce. Toss everything together until the spinach wilts and the pasta is coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
Season: Taste and adjust with salt and black pepper as needed.
Serve: Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

Pasta options: Penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine work great, but feel free to use your favorite pasta shape.
Sausage: You can use spicy Italian sausage for more heat or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta.
Vegetarian version: Swap the sausage for plant-based sausage and use vegetable broth.