Description
This Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender penne pasta tossed in a rich, creamy sauce made with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs, combined with savory ground sausage, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. Perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner, this recipe takes just 40 minutes to prepare and serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked
Sausage
- 1 pound ground sausage
Sauce
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set it aside for later.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground sausage, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is fully cooked and no longer pink. Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and set it aside, leaving any rendered fat in the pan.
- Prepare Sauce: Using the same skillet, pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Add the garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Whisk the mixture over medium-high heat until it begins to thicken, then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
- Finish Dish: Add the chopped spinach and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce in the skillet. Allow the mixture to simmer until the spinach is wilted. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Stir everything together and cook until heated through and well combined.
Notes
- Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your heat preference.
- For a lighter option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Sun-dried tomatoes can be oil-packed or dry; if dry, rehydrate in warm water before using.
- Add fresh basil or parsley for extra herbaceous flavor.
- To reduce salt, use low-sodium chicken broth and adjust seasoning accordingly.
