Cozy Sausage and Spinach Pasta Delight Recipe for Family Dinners

Weeknight dinners demand quick, delicious solutions like this hearty sausage and spinach pasta delight recipe that brings restaurant-quality flavors straight to your table.

Savory Italian sausage mingles with tender spinach leaves, creating a mouthwatering combination that promises comfort in every bite.

The robust ingredients dance together, releasing aromatic herbs and rich, deep flavors that will make you forget about takeout.

Perfectly balanced and incredibly satisfying, this dish comes together faster than you can order delivery.

Each forkful delivers a perfect blend of protein and greens, ensuring a nutritious and delectable meal.

Bold spices and fresh ingredients elevate this simple pasta from ordinary to extraordinary.

Get ready to impress your taste buds and experience a culinary adventure that’s both easy and irresistible.

Keep It Fresh: Sausage and Spinach Pasta Storage Tips

• Refrigerate Strategically: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping the pasta fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Separate pasta from sauce helps maintain better texture when reheating.
• Freeze with Caution: Transfer cooled pasta to freezer-safe containers, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months, understanding that cream-based sauces might slightly separate upon thawing but remain tasty.
• Reheat Carefully: Warm refrigerated pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to restore moisture. Microwave works too, but stir frequently and cover to prevent drying out.
• Prep Ahead Smartly: Chop ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in advance, storing separately in sealed containers. Cook sausage mixture a day before to streamline meal preparation and reduce day-of cooking stress.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 590 kcal

Servings: 7

Start With These for Sausage and Spinach Pasta

• Italian Sausage: Provides rich, savory flavor and protein base for the dish, choose high-quality ground sausage with balanced spice levels.
• Onion: Adds sweet depth and aromatic foundation, select fresh firm onions without soft spots or bruising.
• Garlic: Brings intense, pungent undertones that enhance overall taste profile, pick plump cloves with tight, unbroken skin.

• Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme Leaves, Fennel Seeds, Black Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper: Create complex, layered seasoning that elevates the pasta's flavor complexity, use fresh or recently purchased dried herbs for maximum potency.

• Chicken Broth: Provides liquid base and additional savory notes, opt for low-sodium versions to control salt content.
• Heavy Cream: Delivers luxurious texture and richness, choose high-fat content cream for smoother consistency.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds tangy, salty dimension and helps thicken sauce, grate fresh for best melting properties.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Introduce concentrated, sweet-tart brightness, select plump, oil-packed varieties.
• Spinach: Contributes vibrant color and nutritional boost, use fresh leaves for optimal texture and flavor.
• Penne Pasta: Serves as hearty foundation, select high-quality semolina pasta that holds sauce well.

Prep Tool Needed for Sausage and Spinach Pasta

• Large skillet: Essential for browning sausage and creating the creamy sauce.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Perfect for breaking up sausage and stirring ingredients.
• Cutting board: Needed for chopping onions and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for finely chopping onions and herbs.
• Pasta pot: Necessary for cooking penne pasta to al dente perfection.
• Colander: Used to drain pasta thoroughly.
• Measuring spoons: Helpful for adding precise amounts of spices and herbs.

How You’ll Cook Sausage and Spinach Pasta

• Sausage Magic A delightful dance begins in the skillet with sizzling Italian sausage. Watch as it transforms, breaking into golden morsels while onions soften and release their sweet aroma.
• Flavor Symphony Aromatic herbs and spices join the party, creating a fragrant blend that awakens your senses. Garlic, oregano, and a whisper of red pepper mingle with the sausage, building layers of incredible taste.
• Pasta Preparation The penne takes a hot bath, becoming perfectly tender and ready to embrace the upcoming sauce. Each noodle emerges with potential for deliciousness.
• Creamy Dream A luxurious sauce emerges, starting with chicken broth that captures all the delectable browned bits from the pan. Heavy cream transforms the liquid into a silky canvas, reducing and concentrating flavors.
• Final Fusion Parmesan cheese melts into the sauce, welcoming sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. The sausage and pasta tumble together, creating a harmonious dish that promises comfort and excitement in every single bite.

Make It Better: Sausage and Spinach Pasta Tweaks & Ideas

• Replace Parmesan with pecorino romano, aged asiago, or a combination of hard cheeses for added depth and complexity.
• Toss in roasted bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms to increase nutritional value and add extra texture to the pasta dish.
• Use gluten-free penne pasta and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free for those with dietary restrictions.
• Substitute half-and-half or whole milk for heavy cream to reduce calories while maintaining a creamy consistency.

Best Ways to Plate Sausage and Spinach Pasta

• Serve with Crusty Bread: Pair the pasta with a warm, crispy baguette or garlic bread to soak up the creamy sauce and add a delightful crunch.
• Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped basil or parsley on top to brighten the dish and add a pop of fresh flavor.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement the rich, savory pasta with a glass of medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese to enhance the meal's complexity.
• Side Salad Companion: Toss a light, crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to balance the creamy, hearty pasta and add a refreshing element to the plate.

Hearty Sausage And Spinach Pasta Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Sausage and spinach pasta delight merges robust Italian flavors with creamy textures for a satisfying meal. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, promising comfort and richness you’ll savor with each delectable bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage
• 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta or 2 packages precooked microwaveable pasta (8.5 oz/241 g each)
• 1 ¾ cups (414 ml) heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup (177 ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup baby spinach
• ⅔ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned and drained
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp crushed fennel seeds
• ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp crushed rosemary
• ¼ tsp dried thyme leaves
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Meat Preparation: Activate a spacious skillet over medium heat, aggressively crumbling Italian sausage while simultaneously sautéing diced onions until meat achieves golden perfection and onions turn translucent.
2. Aromatic Enhancement: Reduce heat, introducing minced garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, ground black pepper, rosemary, thyme leaves, and crushed red pepper into the sausage mixture, stirring gently to unleash profound flavor profiles.
3. Pasta Execution: Concurrently cook penne pasta to al dente precision, draining comprehensively to eliminate excess moisture, creating the perfect pasta foundation.
4. Sauce Development: Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, extracting caramelized essence, then incorporate heavy cream, elevating to a gentle boil and subsequently reducing heat to create a luxuriously thickened sauce.
5. Final Integration: Introduce Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach leaves, folding meticulously until cheese dissolves and spinach wilts, then reunite with prepared pasta, ensuring complete flavor distribution.
6. Presentation: Transfer to warmed serving vessels, applying final seasoning adjustments and optional Parmesan cheese garnish, ready for immediate consumption.

Notes

• Meat Selection Matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor for maximum taste impact.
• Spice Precision: Toast herbs like oregano and fennel seeds briefly to unlock deeper, more intense aromatics before adding to the skillet.
• Pasta Perfection: Cook penne just until al dente to prevent mushiness and maintain ideal texture when mixing with sauce.
• Cream Technique: Reduce sauce slowly to develop rich consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching and ensure smooth blending of ingredients.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 590
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg