by Diana Rattray

Sausage, spinach, sage, and a creamy cheese sauce are featured in this earthy penne pasta dish.

closeup picture of penne pasta with sausage and spinach

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the fresh spinach with 8 ounces of thawed and squeezed frozen spinach.
  • Instead of Parmesan, use grated peccorino romano or shredded cheddar or Gruyère.
  • Use turkey Italian sausage for a lighter dish.
  • Add about 1/2 cup of chopped reconstituted sun dried tomatoes to the dish when you add the onions.
  • Instead of penne, make the dish with elbows, ziti, rigatoni, or another tubular pasta.

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Creamy Penne With Sausage and Spinach

penne with sausage and spinach served in a bowl

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This earthy penne pasta dish contains Italian sausage, spinach, and sage, tossed with a creamy cheese sauce.

  • Author: Diana
  • Prep Time: 14 minutes
  • Cook Time: 16 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Pasta, Italian Sausage

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 to 10 ounces chopped frozen spinach, thawed
  • 3 cups penne pasta, about 12 ounces
  • 12 ounces sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh chopped sage
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the penne pasta in boiling salted water following the package directions; save 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain.
  2. Meanwhile, crumble the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat; cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 more minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir the flour into the sausage mixture; stir and cook for 2 minutes longer.
  3. Add the sage and wine and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the chicken stock and spinach. Cook, until the spinach has wilted.
  4. Stir in the hot cooked penne pasta, cream, and 2/3 cup of Parmesan cheese. Heat through. Add some of the reserved pasta water, if desired.
  5. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.
  6. Spoon into a serving dish and top with more grated Parmesan cheese.

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