Creamy Sausage and Spinach Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed)
• 1 Yellow onion (diced)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 cup Chicken broth
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 2 cups Baby spinach (packed)
• 12 oz Penne pasta (or similar short pasta)
• Red pepper flakes (to taste)
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. 2

   In a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat, add the Italian sausage. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.

3. 3

   Add the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the onion is translucent and soft.

4. 4

   Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.

5. 5

   Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

6. 6

   Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly.

7. 7

   Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

8. 8

   Add the fresh baby spinach to the pan. Stir until the spinach is wilted, which should take about 1-2 minutes.

9. 9

   Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated in the sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a spicier kick, use hot Italian sausage instead of mild. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with a splash of reserved pasta water.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• sausage
• spinach
• creamy
• dinner
• comfort food