A quick and comforting pasta dish featuring savory chicken sausage, creamy marinara sauce, wilted spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in 25 minutes, this satisfying meal balances rich flavors and healthy ingredients for a weeknight favorite.
12 oz pasta (penne or ziti)
4 Italian chicken sausages, casings removed
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 cups fresh spinach
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken sausage, cook until browned, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
In the same skillet, add garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté 1 minute. Stir in marinara sauce and heavy cream to combine.
Return chicken sausage to the pan and simmer until heated through, 3-4 minutes.
Toss cooked pasta into the skillet. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve pasta topped with Parmesan cheese.
Substitute gluten-free pasta or zucchini noodles for a low-carb option
Use fresh basil or parsley instead of spinach
Vegan version: Omit Parmesan, use nutritional yeast
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days
Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/italian-chicken-sausage-pasta/