Description
Spicy Paccheri with Sausage & Greens is a hearty and flavorful Italian pasta dish featuring large tubular paccheri pasta tossed with spicy Italian sausage, fresh greens like spinach or kale, garlic, tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. This recipe balances savory sausage with the freshness of greens and a mild heat that can be adjusted to taste, finished with Parmesan cheese and basil for a classic Italian touch.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 12 oz paccheri pasta
For the Sauce
- 1 lb spicy Italian sausage (remove casing)
- 2 cups fresh greens (spinach, kale, or Swiss chard)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Garnish
- Fresh basil, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the paccheri pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually around 12-15 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
- Add Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes: Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes into the skillet with the sausage. Cook for 1 minute more until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Incorporate the Greens: Add the fresh greens to the skillet. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes until the greens wilt and mix thoroughly with the sausage.
- Add Tomatoes and Season: Pour in the diced tomatoes and season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing all the flavors to blend together.
- Toss the Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained paccheri to the skillet and toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta well with the sausage and greens sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the pasta hot. Garnish each plate with fresh basil leaves and a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the flavor and presentation.
Notes
- You can customize the heat level by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes.
- Fresh greens such as spinach, kale, or Swiss chard work equally well—choose your favorite or what’s in season.
- For a richer sauce, consider adding a splash of pasta cooking water when tossing the pasta to help the sauce adhere better.
- Make sure to remove casing from sausage for easier cooking and better texture distribution.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, substitute sausage with plant-based crumble and omit cheese or use a vegan alternative.
