Description
Creamy pesto pasta with sausage creates a hearty Italian-inspired meal that combines rich flavors in under 30 minutes. Quick preparation and simple ingredients make this dish perfect for weeknight dinners you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 links chicken sausage (fully cooked, sliced ¼-inch thick)
- 1 12 oz (340 g) box Barilla® Pronto™ Penne
- 3 cups (720 ml) water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsps pine nuts
- 1 6.3 oz (178 g) jar Barilla® Pesto sauce
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach (roughly chopped, optional)
- Fresh basil (for garnish, optional)
- Additional grated parmesan cheese (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Toast Nuts: In a dry 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, gently stir pine nuts until golden-brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Sear Sausage: Drizzle olive oil in the same skillet, sauté chicken sausage on medium-high heat until edges crisp and caramelized, roughly 5 minutes. Remove and reserve.
- Create Sauce Base: Whisk water, heavy cream, and pesto directly in the skillet. Add pasta, ensuring complete liquid coating.
- Cook Pasta: Elevate heat to high, simmer pasta while stirring continuously to prevent sticking. Cook 10 minutes until pasta reaches al dente and sauce thickens, creating a creamy consistency.
- Finish Dish: Remove from heat, fold in Parmesan cheese and spinach leaves. Stir until cheese melts and spinach slightly wilts, integrating all flavors harmoniously.
- Plate and Garnish: Sprinkle reserved toasted pine nuts and extra Parmesan over the pasta, transforming the one-pan meal into a visually stunning and delectable dish.
Notes
- Toast Pine Nuts Carefully: Golden-brown color requires constant attention, preventing burning by stirring every 30 seconds over medium-high heat.
- Choose Quality Sausage: Select chicken sausage with robust flavor, ensuring caramelized edges for enhanced taste and texture.
- Watch Liquid Absorption: Monitor pasta closely during high-heat simmering to achieve perfect al dente consistency without overcooking or sticking.
- Add Final Touches Quickly: Stir Parmesan and spinach off heat to create creamy texture and prevent spinach from becoming overly wilted or losing vibrant color.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 644
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 842 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 93 mg