Tuscan Sausage Pasta
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Calories
601 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Description
This Tuscan Sausage Pasta starts by boiling rigatoni until tender and coating it lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Italian sausage is browned and broken into small pieces for a deeper meat flavor. Garlic sautéed in butter forms the aromatic base.
A sauce is created by stirring flour into the butter and garlic to form a roux, then whisking in chicken broth, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Seasonings include salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, harmonizing to create a creamy, slightly spicy sauce.
The cooked pasta, browned sausage, chopped roasted red peppers, and fresh baby spinach leaves are combined with the sauce and heated gently to meld flavors. This creates a rich, balanced dish with tender pasta, savory sausage, and bright vegetable notes.
This pasta works well as a comforting main meal and the sausage can be substituted with regular ground sausage plus Italian herb seasoning if necessary. Adding fresh herbs and cracked black pepper at the end enhances freshness and texture.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta or other short pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage see note, ground
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 teaspoons garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 1-2 teaspoons salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- 1 ounce red bell pepper chopped, roasted, jarred
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
Instructions
- Boil pasta for 8-9 minutes til tender, drain and toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown sausage for 5-7 minutes - breaking into small chunks with a wooden spoon or spatula - until sausage is fully cooked. Transfer to a dish and cover to keep warm.
- In the same dish, melt butter. Stir in garlic for 1 minute til fragrant.
- Stir in flour, then whisk in chicken broth. Whisk in heavy cream, parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in pasta, browned sausage, roasted red peppers, noodles, and baby spinach.
- Simmer for five minutes before garnishing with fresh herbs and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have Italian sausage, use regular ground sausage mixed with 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning.
- Spicy Italian sausage can be used for added heat if you prefer a spicier dish.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 601 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 601kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 37g | 57% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Cholesterol | 109mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 1114mg | 46% |
| Potassium | 425mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 1109IU | 22% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 61mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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