Description
Indulge in the rich flavors of this Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta Bake, a comforting Italian-inspired dish that combines savory Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and a decadent creamy sauce, all baked to perfection with gooey melted cheeses.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Sauce:
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped)
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta in salted water until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Cook sausage: In a skillet, cook sausage until browned, then add garlic and sauté.
- Make sauce: Add sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, cream, broth, seasonings; simmer until thickened.
- Combine: Toss cooked pasta in the sauce, transfer to a baking dish.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- You can swap Italian sausage for chicken sausage or a plant-based alternative.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- This dish reheats well and can be frozen before baking for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Pasta Bake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1½ cups
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
