Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta

This Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta is packed with savory Italian sausage, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and tender spinach in a silky Parmesan cream sauce. It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner, yet special enough to share with family and friends.

🧄 The Ingredients

A handful of simple, complementary ingredients come together to make this pasta rich, savory, and full of flavor. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.

📝 Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pasta: Rigatoni and penne hold the creamy sauce well. Fusilli or another short pasta works, too.
• Italian sausage: Mild or hot sausage both work. For a lighter option, use chicken or turkey sausage; brown it well for the best flavor.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed tomatoes add richness and tang. Drain and chop them, saving a little of the flavorful oil for the skillet.
• Spinach: Baby spinach wilts quickly. If using mature spinach, remove any tough stems and give it a little extra time in the pan.
• Heavy cream: For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half, but keep the heat gentle to help prevent it from separating.
• Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoothly and adds savory depth. Pecorino Romano can be substituted for a sharper, saltier flavor.
• White wine: Use dry white wine for brightness, or replace it with chicken broth.
• Red pepper flakes: Add them for a little warmth, or leave them out for a milder dish.

🔥 Tips and Tricks for Perfect Tuscan Pasta

• Salt the pasta water well. It’s your first chance to season the pasta and helps the finished dish taste well-rounded.
• Cook the pasta just shy of al dente. It will finish cooking in the sauce and soak up more flavor.
• Brown the sausage thoroughly. Let it develop golden edges before stirring too often; those browned bits add flavor to the sauce.
• Scrape up the skillet’s browned bits. When you add the wine or broth, use a wooden spoon to loosen them into the sauce.
• Keep the cream at a gentle simmer. Avoid a hard boil, which can make the sauce separate.
• Reserve pasta water before draining. A splash helps loosen the sauce and makes it silky enough to cling to the pasta.
• Add Parmesan off the heat. This helps it melt smoothly into the sauce without clumping.

👩🏼‍🍳 How to Make Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta

1. Step 1: Heat the oil (from the sun-dried tomatoes) in a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the Italian sausage into the pan and cook until no longer pink. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pan. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

2. Step 2: Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sauté for another 30-60 seconds. Also add the pasta to the boiling water, stirring occasionally.

3. Step 3: Add wine and cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, chicken stock, cream, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.

4. Step 4: Stir in the cooked sausage.

5. Step 5: Add the cooked pasta and spinach and simmer, stirring often, until the spinach has wilted.

6. Step 6: Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve at once.

🍽️ How to Serve

• Serve it hot, straight from the skillet. The sauce is at its silkiest right after the pasta is tossed.
• Finish with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped basil or parsley.
• Add a chopped Italian salad with homemade Italian dressing to balance the creamy sauce.
• Pair it with Italian crusty bread to scoop up every bit of sauce.
• Offer extra red pepper flakes at the table for anyone who likes a little more heat.
• For a special dinner, serve with a glass of dry white wine or a light-bodied red.

🙋🏽‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions

🇮🇹 More Amazing Italian Recipes

Ready to make the best pasta dish this side of, well, Tuscany? Go for it!

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