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Creamy Tuscan sausage pasta is pretty much a one pan wonder you will want to cook over and over again! Perfect for a busy night, this is a hearty comforting dish that will truly satisfy.
Tuscan recipes are so divine! I love the flavor combination of sun-dried tomatoes, cheese, and cream! These reader-favorite Tuscan recipes are the perfect example: try Creamy Tuscan Scallops, Shrimp or Chicken!
Italian Sausage Pasta
This is a super easy pasta recipe that tastes like you slaved over it all day. This Tuscan dish has tender pasta, savory sausage, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes and spinach all smothered in a creamy decadent sauce. It’s insanely delicious and it’s so quick and easy! You can even argue that it’s made in one pan, especially if you already had pasta already cooked. This creamy sausage pasta hits the spot when comes to wanting something full of flavor and comforting. It will no doubt become a new family favorite!
This will feel like you’re eating at a fancy Italian restaurant or having an intimate dinner for two all in the comfort of your own home. Pair this with a side of breadsticks, some roasted vegetables and a tasty chocolate dessert and you have fine dining perfect for busy weekdays. Whether it’s your first time with a Tuscan sauce or not, you have to try this tonight! You are going to love the way the sausage and sun-dried tomatoes come together in this sauce. It’s heavenly.
What is Tuscan Cooking?
Tuscan food is based on the Italian idea of cucina povera or “poor cooking.” It’s a concept of cooking that started very literally. It means simple meals that are inexpensive and could easily be made into large amounts. For instance this recipe can be doubled super easily as could this Tuscan pasta salad or vegetable and chicken stew. They are filling dishes that taste amazing without super expensive ingredients!
Tuscan cooking doesn’t use complicated seasonings or elaborate ingredients. This is because they focus on using fresh, high-quality ingredients that bring out incredible flavors without the extras. It’s delicious done simply!
Ingredients for Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Creating this creamy dish is fast and easy and doesn’t take a bunch of crazy ingredients. Pick your favorite type meat! Ground sausage, pork, chicken and turkey all work so well. You can also control the spice level depending on what kind of sausage you get. If you like it hot, feel free to add red pepper flakes as garnish as well!
- Penne Pasta: I love penne because it soaks up the delicious sauce, but you can use your favorite pasta instead.
- Ground Sausage: Pick your favorite kind- mild, or spicy, pork or chicken!
- Heavy Cream: Makes the sauce so nice and creamy!
- Chicken Broth: Adds richness and flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic adds a great flavor in this Tuscan pasta.
- Italian Seasoning: I love this seasoning, it has all the great spices together in one blend. You can make your own using my recipe here.
- Parmesan Cheese: Love this cheese with this dish. Fresh is best if you have it! Grating your own cheese makes all the difference in flavor.
- Baby Spinach: Super nutritious and adds a pop of color! You can also use kale as a substitute.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sweet and savory, these are just so good. Look for sun-dried tomatoes either in the produce section or the canned vegetable aisle!
How to Make Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Truly, this dish couldn’t be easier. You are going to love that it tastes so amazing but is so simple to throw together. It’s perfect for a busy weekday, or a quiet weekend. Either way you have to try it!
- Precook Pasta: Bring a large pot to boil and then cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet add the sausage. Cook and crumble until it is no longer pink. Then set aside on a plate.
- Prepare Sauce: Add the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese. Whisk over medium high heat until it starts to thicken. Add the spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and then let it simmer until the spinach starts to wilt. Then add the sausage back to the pan and add the pasta and stir until heated throughout.
Tips and Variations
Use your imagination and what you have on hand to create this amazing creamy Tuscan pasta! You’re going to love how it turns out.
- Pasta: I love using pasta that can really soak up the sauce and hold it in its crevices. For this creamy sausage pasta you can use almost any pasta you like, even spaghetti if that’s what you have on hand. Try cavatappi, rigatoni, conchiglie, tagliatelle, or fusilli for fun and ease.
- Al Dente: Cook your pasta al dente. This means that the pasta is tender but is still chewy and holds it shape with a bit of firmness. This will allow the pasta to absorb the sauce a bit and hold on to the flavor in every bite.
- Sausage: You can use just about any sausage you would like. I prefer to use Italian sausage, which is just sausage flavored with Italian-type spices versus regular sausage, but both will work. Italian sausage can be found in both mild and spicy, and either will taste amazing. For leaner versions try chicken or turkey Italian sausage.
- Heavy Cream: You can use half and half instead of heavy cream to also cut a few calories but your sauce won’t turn out quite as rich.
- Spinach: If you don’t have fresh spinach, frozen will work. Be sure to really squeeze out any of the extra liquid. Kale and Swiss chard can also be used.
How to Store Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Like most Italian dishes, this sausage pasta is almost better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld together. Heat up your leftovers for a quick and satisfying lunch!
- In the Refrigerator: Keep leftovers tightly covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- In the Freezer: You can also keep this frozen for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or on the stove. If it needs thinning add a bit of chicken broth or water as it heats.
More Incredible Pasta Recipes
Pasta is the ideal comfort food. It’s customizable and so satisfying! It also makes the BEST leftovers and is so easy to reheat for a quick and easy lunch. Need a new way to serve up pasta tonight? Try one of these tried and true favorites for dinner that’s guaranteed to win the family over.
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Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounce penne pasta uncooked
- 1 Pound Ground Sausage
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Bring a large pot to boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
- In a large skillet add the sausage. Cook and crumble until it is no longer pink. Set aside on a plate.
- Add the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Whisk over medium high heat until it starts to thicken. Add the spinach and sundried tomatoes and let it simmer until the spinach starts to wilt. Add the sausage back to the pan and add the pasta and stir until heated throughout.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you use sun dried tomatoes packed in oil or the dry ones?
You can use either. The ones in the oil may add some additional flavor to the pasta.
This is really good! I didn’t have heavy cream but used half and half and then added a bar of cream cheese too!
Fantastic!! A friend shared this link on FB. I made it to give an older lady at church who doesn’t cook much anymore. It was her 82nd birthday and since I had all the ingredients on hand and it was a quick dish, I put it together Sunday morning. I also packed up a serving for my sister and am happy to say both ladies loved it! One said it was one of the tastiest bites she’s had in a long time and the other said it was out-of-this-world delicious!
I made two small changes. Used 3/4 cup of fresh cherry tomatoes that I sliced in half since I’m not a fan of sun dried tomatoes. When the skins blistered off in the sauce I removed them. Also used a half cup of Pinot Grigio instead of chicken broth as I find wine creates such depth of flavor as compared to broth. (Neither of the ladies drink alcohol and they were not offended by the taste of the wine.)
I did use a cornstarch slurry to thicken up the sauce because even using the heaving whipping cream it seemed a bit thin.
I loved how it say it was to make—no hours of standing on my feet doing prep.
Thank you for a great recipe!!
One of the best recipes I’ve made!!
I can’t use heavy cream because of a lactose intolerance. Will the recipe work with lactose free milk, if I add some corn starch as a thickener?
You could try that! There is also dairy-free heavy cream at most local grocery stores that you can use instead!
Soooo good and easy. I made this tonight for a friend coming over for dinner. It was so quick to make. So tasty. Only thing I would change is to add more spinach ( but i love spinach)
Did anyone try and make this recipe in an instant pot? I might try making it tomorrow and just may try it. If someone has, I would love to hear any suggestions, thanks.
Do you clean the grease and drippings from sausage before adding cream and chicken stock to pan?
No, don’t clean it in between. This will maintain the flavor.
Turned out ok, didn’t really thicken at all. More so just melted the parm cheese. Tried simmering for like 5 minutes. So idk if I’ll make again
When things don’t thickened, I mix up some corn starch with water and carefully add
This was so delicious! I’m not a very diverse cook and this was super easy to make. I used Aidelles Italian sausage and cut it up and browned it. I also used freshed cherry tomatoes because that’s what I had already. Added a little more seasoning and it was so yummy!
Can you use Jimmy dean sausage or do you use Italian sausage?
I used Jimmy Dean All Natural sausage, and it came out amazing.
We try to find new recipes every week to try so we can break up the monotony of the same ol same ol. A lot of these that we try fall short from the description, this one does not! We will add this one to the rotation! I did add more of the spices than what was called for, IMHO, most recipes are light on the spices.
I am not a sausage fan but my family loves it so I decided to try this. With the sauce and the sausage it was phenomenal and I realized that I like sausage and pasta. Everyone cleaned their entire plates and some asked for more.
Right after I decided to make this I realized that I did not have any sun-dried tomatoes so I just made them myself, don’t let not having those stop you from making them, they are super easy!
Pinterest win!!!
Yay! I’m so glad that you loved it!
Wanted to try this dish and let me just say WOW! I love to cook and am always looking for something easy to throw together on a busy weeknight. Pure comfort food! Delicious and could easily be mistaken for something from a fancy restaurant. Will definitely be making again!
Thank you! I’m so glad that you loved it!
This was amazing! Made it while on vacation at a friend’s house. We all loved it and going to make agin tonight with my granddaughter. Can’t wait!!
What is a good dairy free option to use instead of the heavy cream?
Thanks.
Hi! They have a dairy-free heavy whipping cream option at my local grocery store, made by Silk!