Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta: The Ultimate Weeknight Dinner Recipe

This creamy Italian sausage pasta, featuring a homemade creamy sauce, is a perfect choice for busy weeknights. It requires simple ingredients but delivers exceptional flavor, making it a family favorite.

Consider this recipe an easy skillet dinner solution. This delectable pasta can stand alone as a complete meal or be complemented with one or two side dishes for a more substantial dining experience.

Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!

This is a comforting dish that’s incredibly easy to prepare, yet bursting with amazing flavors. The creamy, rich pasta sauce harmonizes perfectly with the savory ground sausage and fresh spinach, ensuring a delightful and satisfying meal every time. If you are looking for a quick and easy meal that your family will love, look no further.

Ingredients for Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

• Protein: Choose either regular ground sausage or spicy Italian sausage for added heat. The type of sausage you choose will affect the overall flavor profile of the pasta, so choose wisely.
• Pasta: Penne pasta is recommended, but feel free to use any dry pasta shape you prefer. Different pasta shapes will hold the sauce differently, so experiment to find your favorite combination.
• Oil: A small amount of olive oil or avocado oil is necessary for sautéing. The oil helps to brown the sausage and onions, adding depth of flavor to the dish.
• Onion: Diced yellow or white onion contributes significant flavor to the sauce. Be sure to dice the onion finely for even cooking and distribution of flavor.
• Seasoning: A combination of minced garlic and kosher salt enhances the overall taste. Freshly minced garlic is always preferable for the best flavor.
• Cream: Use heavy cream for a rich and creamy pasta sauce. The high fat content of heavy cream creates a luscious texture that coats the pasta perfectly.
• Vegetables: Chopped fresh spinach adds a healthy touch to this creamy pasta dish. Spinach wilts quickly in the heat, adding a vibrant green color and a boost of nutrients.
• Cheese: Shredded Parmesan cheese is the perfect finishing touch to this comforting pasta dish. The salty, nutty flavor of Parmesan complements the creamy sauce and savory sausage.
• Cream Cheese: Adds a velvety texture and tangy flavor. A little cream cheese goes a long way in enriching the sauce and adding a unique twist.
• Diced Tomatoes: An excellent way to add bulk and acidity, especially when on a budget. Canned diced tomatoes are a pantry staple and provide a bright, fresh element to the dish.

How to Make Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and satisfying creamy Italian sausage pasta:

1. Cook pasta:
   1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package directions. Cooking the pasta al dente ensures it has a slight bite and doesn’t become mushy.
   2. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set aside. It’s important to drain the pasta well to prevent the sauce from becoming watery.
2. Brown sausage:
   

   

   3. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Make sure the skillet is hot before adding the sausage to ensure proper browning.
   4. Add the sausage, diced onion, garlic, and salt to the skillet. These ingredients form the base of the flavorful sauce.
   5. Cook until the sausage is browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Breaking the sausage apart ensures it cooks evenly and incorporates well into the sauce.
   6. Drain any excess fat if needed, then return the sausage mixture to the skillet. Removing excess fat prevents the sauce from becoming greasy.
3. Add cream:
   

   

   

   

   7. Reduce heat to low and pour in the heavy cream, cream cheese and diced tomatoes if using. Stir with a spatula and bring to a gentle simmer. Simmering the sauce allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
   8. Add spinach and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until wilted. The spinach should be bright green and tender.
4. Add in cheese and pasta:
   

   

   9. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined. The Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps to thicken the sauce further.
   10. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce. Ensure all the pasta strands are coated in the creamy sauce for maximum flavor.
   11. Serve immediately for the best taste and texture. This dish is best enjoyed hot and fresh.

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

By: Julia Pacheco

Easy sausage pasta with a homemade creamy sauce is one of the best easy dinners to make on busy weeknights with only simple ingredients, and the best flavor.

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 5

Save Recipe
Pin Recipe
Comment
Print Recipe

Equipment

• Large pot
• Large skillet
• Spatula

Save this recipe!

Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1 lb penne pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp cream cheese, cubed
• 14 oz diced tomatoes optional
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cook pasta:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package directions.
• Drain and set aside.

Brown sausage:

• While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the sausage, diced onion, garlic, and salt.
• Cook until the sausage is browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks.
• Drain excess fat if needed, then return the sausage mixture to the skillet.

Add cream:

• Reduce heat to low and pour in the heavy cream, cream cheese, and diced tomatoes if using. Stir with a spatula and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Add spinach and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until wilted.

Add in cheese and pasta:

• Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce.
• Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 1087kcal
|
Carbohydrates: 74g
|
Protein: 35g
|
Fat: 72g
|
Saturated Fat: 36g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g
|
Monounsaturated Fat: 25g
|
Cholesterol: 190mg
|
Sodium: 1257mg
|
Potassium: 630mg
|
Fiber: 3g
|
Sugar: 6g
|
Vitamin A: 2681IU
|
Vitamin C: 7mg
|
Calcium: 352mg
|
Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Let us know how it was!

How to store this comforting dinner recipe:

Fridge: Place the leftover creamy pasta into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. This makes it a perfect option for meal prepping.

Tips and tricks for making this creamy sausage pasta recipe:

Type of sausage:

Using ground sausage works best with hearty pasta in this recipe. Any pork sausages, ground or links, can be used. For more complex flavors you could also try different meat sausages like beef or chicken.

For those who enjoy a spicy kick, using spicy sausage or adding a pinch of red pepper flakes enhances the creamy sauce.

Ways to customize this perfect weeknight dinner:

While this pasta recipe is wonderful as is, it offers numerous possibilities for customization.

For an even creamier sauce, simply add a bit of cream cheese during cooking. This gives it a richer, more indulgent texture.

Transform the dish into a creamy tomato sauce by incorporating a can of diced tomatoes and a touch of tomato paste. The acidity from the tomatoes balances the richness of the cream and sausage.

Quick links for making dinner easy:

• Family meal plans
• Tools for the kitchen and more
• The best cookbook for family dinner recipes
• FREE budget meal plan
• Cooking videos to watch

If you try these recipes, tag us on Instagram @julia.pacheco.cooking and let us know how much you enjoyed them!