Tini’s One-Pot Chicken Sausage Penne

Ingredients

• water (for boiling the pasta; amount not stated)
• 1 lb penne
• 6 oz mushrooms (sliced)
• 2 shallots (diced; yellow onion may be substituted)
• 6 garlic (cloves, crushed or minced)
• fresh basil (a generous amount, sliced; additional fresh basil for serving)
• olive oil (a little for cooking the sausage, plus a little more for the vegetables; amounts not stated)
• 1 lb Italian chicken sausage (source says “Italian sausage, chicken”; interpreted as chicken Italian sausage)
• butter (amount not stated)
• spinach (add as much as desired; amount not stated)
• 2 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• salt (to taste; amount not stated)
• paprika (amount not stated)
• thyme leaves (dried; fresh may also be used; amount not stated)
• chili flakes (a little; amount not stated)
• 0.25 cup reserved pasta water (reserved from cooking the pasta)
• Parmesan cheese (for topping; amount not stated)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the penne and boil for 11 minutes, or according to the source’s stated timing. While it cooks, prepare the other ingredients.

2. 2

   Slice the mushrooms and dice the shallots, setting each aside. Crush or mince the garlic. Stack the basil leaves, roll them, and slice them.

3. 3

   Drain the pasta, reserving ¼ cup of the cooking water. Set the pasta aside.

4. 4

   Return the same pot to the heat and add a little olive oil. Heat the oil, then add the chicken Italian sausage.

5. 5

   Cook the sausage until it is about 90% done. Remove it to a plate lined with paper towels, leaving the flavorful browned bits in the pot; it is fine if a few pieces remain.

6. 6

   Add butter and a little more olive oil to the pot. Heat until the butter has melted.

7. 7

   Add the diced shallots and sliced mushrooms. Cook for 3–5 minutes.

8. 8

   Add the minced garlic and spinach. Cook until the spinach has wilted down.

9. 9

   Add the two 15-ounce cans of tomato sauce and return the sausage to the pot. Cook until the sausage is fully cooked.

10. 10

    Add the sliced basil, salt, paprika, thyme, chili flakes, and reserved pasta water. Stir to combine; the starchy water helps the sauce thicken and become smooth and velvety.

11. 11

    Let the sauce simmer for 10–15 minutes.

12. 12

    Add the cooked penne and mix until the pasta is coated and combined with the sauce.

13. 13

    Serve the pasta topped with Parmesan cheese and additional fresh basil.

Notes

The amount of spinach, basil, oil, butter, and seasonings is not specified. The source describes this as a one-pot dish, although it first boils and drains the pasta before reusing the pot. No heat level for the simmer or serving count is stated; servings are estimated.

Nutrition per serving

• dinner
• main
• Italian-inspired
• one-pot
• pasta
• comfort food