Description
This One-Pan Creamy Penne with Spinach and Italian Sausage is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish that combines tender penne with a creamy Parmesan sauce, earthy spinach, and savory Italian sausage. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, it delivers rich taste with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta
Sauce and Meat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Seasoning
- 5 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente following the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it into smaller pieces with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté Garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
- Wilt Spinach: Add fresh spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine evenly. Gradually stir in grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Season and Combine: Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Add the cooked penne pasta into the skillet and toss to evenly coat the pasta with the creamy sauce mixture.
- Serve: Serve the dish warm, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired for an added touch of flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk but expect a less thick sauce.
- Remove casings from the sausage before cooking to ensure even browning and better texture.
- Fresh spinach can be substituted with baby spinach or frozen spinach, though fresh yields better texture and flavor.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted to preference for spiciness.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
