This one-pan creamy penne with spinach and Italian sausage is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish, made with fresh spinach, savory Italian sausage, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce. It’s a quick and satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights and only uses one pan, making cleanup easy.
Ingredients
8 oz penne pasta
1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups fresh spinach
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil penne pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add Italian sausage, and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon (5-7 minutes).
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for about a minute until fragrant.
- Add Spinach: Add spinach to the skillet, cooking until wilted (about 2-3 minutes).
- Make Sauce: Pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine, then gradually add Parmesan until the sauce is melted and creamy.
- Season and Combine: Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired, then add cooked pasta and mix to coat.
- Serve: Serve warm, garnishing with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Substitute frozen spinach if needed, but thaw and drain it well.
- Make it spicier with extra red pepper flakes or spicy Italian sausage.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-pan
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 2g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
