Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta | Dinner That Feels Like a Hug 🤗🍝

heavy cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: milk + cornstarch

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds umami flavor.

Roll the ground Italian sausage into small balls.

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil on the stove.

Add salt to the boiling water until it tastes as salty as the sea.

Drop the penne pasta into the boiling water and cook until just al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add a little oil.

Add the meatballs to the skillet and cook until browned and crispy on the edges, rolling them around to ensure all sides are cooked.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the meatballs to a plate, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and toss in the mushrooms, cooking for a few minutes.

Before draining the pasta, save some of the starchy pasta water for later use.

Drain the pasta and set it aside for a few minutes.

Add minced garlic to the skillet with the mushrooms and cook for about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn it.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, and cream to the skillet.

Scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan as the liquid heats up.

Let the broth simmer until it reduces by about half, with a few lazy bubbles.

Grate fresh Parmesan cheese from a block into the sauce once it has thickened, turning off the heat to prevent graininess.

Stir the grated Parmesan into the sauce until melted and smooth.

Add the cooked meatballs and baby spinach to the sauce, stirring gently until the spinach wilts.

Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss everything together gently, ensuring every piece of pasta is coated in sauce.

If the sauce is too thick, drizzle in reserved pasta water and stir until creamy.

Taste the pasta and add salt and cracked black pepper as needed.

Give it one last stir before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens