Description
Hearty “Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta” delivers Mediterranean comfort in one skillet, blending rich Italian sausage with silky sauce and tender pasta. Savory ingredients dance together, promising a delicious journey through rustic Tuscany that satisfies deep hunger and culinary curiosity.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casing removed)
Pasta and Pasta Seasoning:
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni)
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- ½ cup chicken broth (for extra flavor and silkiness)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped, oil-packed is best)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (if needed, for browning sausage)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach (or kale, chopped)
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Fill a generously sized pot with water, season with salt, and bring to a vigorous boil.
- Submerge pasta into the bubbling water, stirring occasionally, and cook until reaching a perfectly tender yet slightly firm texture as recommended on the packaging.
- Once cooked, carefully strain the pasta using a colander, preserving a portion of the starchy cooking liquid for later sauce enhancement.
- Transfer the drained pasta to a waiting serving dish, ensuring it remains warm and ready for the upcoming sauce preparation.
Notes
- Swap pork sausage with chicken or turkey sausage for a leaner protein option that still packs incredible flavor.
- Add extra spinach or kale to boost the nutritional value and create a more vibrant, vegetable-rich dish.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe completely gluten-free without compromising the creamy, comforting texture.
- For a dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream and use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese to maintain the rich, savory profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 678
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1095 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 107 mg