Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta with Italian Sausage and Spinach
A rich and satisfying pasta dish featuring savory Italian sausage, a creamy tomato and basil sauce, and fresh spinach, perfect for a hearty dinner.
Ingredients
- •1 tablespoon olive oil
- •1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
- •1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- •1/2 cup chicken broth
- •1/2 cup heavy cream
- •1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- •1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- •1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- •4 cups fresh spinach
- •12 ounces pasta (such as penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- •1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- •Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Dietary Info
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- 2
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat and transfer sausage to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the skillet.
- 3
Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 4
Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and let it cook for 10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Stir in the cooked Italian sausage.
- 5
Pour in the heavy cream and stir until combined. Add the fresh basil and fresh spinach, stirring until the spinach wilts, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- 6
Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- 7
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
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