Creamy Penne with Italian Sausage and Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 poundItalian sausage (sweet or hot, bulk or casings removed)
- 1 mediumyellow onion
- 3 clovesgarlic
- 1 poundpenne pasta
- 1 cupheavy cream
- ½ cupchicken broth
- 4 cupsfresh spinach (packed)
- ½ cupParmesan cheese
- ¼ cupsun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed)
- 1 teaspoonsalt
- ½ teaspoonblack pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)
Prep
- 01
Dice 1 medium yellow onion.
- 02
Mince 3 cloves garlic.
Method
- 01
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 02
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 7–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- 03
In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- 04
Pour in the chicken broth and cream, stirring to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- 05
Return the sausage to the skillet. Add the spinach in batches, stirring until wilted, about 2–3 minutes. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes.
- 06
Add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss gently. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- 07
Divide among serving bowls and serve immediately.
Spice Tips
For more heat, increase the red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon or add a pinch of cayenne. A splash of balsamic vinegar (1 teaspoon) at the end brightens the cream sauce. If you prefer less richness, swap half the cream for whole milk.