Creamy Italian sausage pasta is easy to make and super delicious. It's made with spicy or mild (your choice!) Italian sausage cooked in a creamy tomato sauce.
Ingredients
8ouncespenne, or other short pasta. gluten-free, if needed
2Italian sausages, casings removed (mild or spicy, your choice)
1small onion, minced
3 clovesgarlic, finely minced
2tablespoonstomato paste
½cupwhite wine or chicken stock
14ouncecan crushed tomatoes
4ouncescream cheese, can be light
½teaspoonEACH: salt and pepper, more to taste
3ouncesbaby spinach
Grated parmesan, to serve
Instructions
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water then drain the pot.
8 ounces penne
Add the sausage, onion, and garlic to a large skillet (frying pan) over medium-high heat. Cook, crumbling the sausages with a spoon, until the sausages are cooked, about 6-7 minutes.
2 Italian sausages, 1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic
Add the tomato paste to the pan and stir it into the sausages. Let it caramelize for 2-3 minutes then add the wine or stock to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom to release any flavorful bits that are stuck on.
2 tablespoons tomato paste, ½ cup white wine or chicken stock
Add the crushed tomatoes and cream cheese and simmer the sauce, stirring a few times, until the cream cheese has melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
14 ounce can crushed tomatoes, 4 ounces cream cheese, ½ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
Add the cooked penne and spinach and stir them into the sauce. Add a little of the reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce, if needed.