Description
Savory Tuscan Sausage Pasta blends rich Italian flavors with comforting pasta perfection. Hearty ingredients dance together, creating a quick weeknight meal that brings Mediterranean warmth directly to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 8 ounces (226 grams) penne pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups heavy cream
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare penne pasta al dente according to package guidelines, then thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature and crumble ground sausage, cooking until golden brown and completely rendered.
- Eliminate excess rendered fat from the skillet, maintaining the sausage’s caramelized bits.
- Pour heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning into the skillet, whisking to create a harmonious blend.
- Allow the liquid mixture to gently simmer for approximately 5 minutes, developing rich flavors and slightly thickening.
- Incorporate freshly grated parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until smoothly melted and integrated with the sauce.
- Introduce fresh spinach leaves and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, cooking until spinach becomes delicately wilted and vibrant green.
- Carefully fold the perfectly cooked pasta into the creamy sauce, ensuring each pasta strand is luxuriously coated with the robust mixture.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately, optionally embellishing with an additional sprinkle of parmesan cheese for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Swap ground sausage with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu or vegan sausage for a vegetarian version that maintains robust flavor profiles.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium chicken broth and reducing added salt, making the dish heart-friendly and more nutritionally balanced.
- Create a lighter version by substituting heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk, which adds creamy texture while reducing overall calorie content.
- Allow sauce to thicken naturally by simmering gently, preventing separation and ensuring a smooth, silky consistency that clings perfectly to pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 770 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 58 g
- Saturated Fat: 24 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg