Description
Make this incredibly easy and flavorful Creamy Tuscan Chicken Sausage Pasta Skillet for a perfect weeknight dinner. This one-pan recipe combines savory chicken sausage with tender pasta in a rich, creamy sauce, offering a gourmet feel with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Italian chicken sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken sausage and cook until browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the sausage and set it aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice) and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Add the dry pasta to the skillet. Stir well to coat. Cover the skillet and cook according to the pasta package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is nearly tender (usually 10-12 minutes). If the mixture becomes too dry, add a splash more broth or water.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Return the cooked chicken sausage to the skillet. Stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts into the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper to your taste. Serve immediately for a delicious, simple chicken sausage meal.
Notes
- For a budget friendly option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though the sauce will be slightly thinner.
- You can substitute sun-dried tomatoes for fresh diced tomatoes for a more intense Tuscan flavor.
- This recipe is excellent for meal prep; store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 110