Sausage Pasta Recipe
A quick and flavorful sausage pasta dish featuring Italian sausages cooked with onions, garlic, and crushed tomatoes, tossed with spiral pasta and fresh spinach. Finished with fragrant basil and Parmesan for a satisfying weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Pasta
- 250 g / 0.5 lb spiral pasta
Sausage and Sauce
- 500 g / 1 lb good Italian sausages (or other quality sausages of choice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato (or tomato passata)
- 1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Greens and Garnish
- 1 – 2 big handfuls baby spinach (optional)
- Basil leaves, finely sliced
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the spiral pasta according to package directions minus 1-2 minutes to keep it slightly underdone. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare Sausages: Cut the Italian sausages into chunks about 1.5 cm (3/5 inch). The sausage will become somewhat smeary and irregular in shape but this is normal and will resolve while cooking.
- Brown Sausages: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sausage chunks and cook until they are nicely browned on the outside but not fully cooked through.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausages. Cook for about 2 minutes until the onion is translucent and the sausages are more deeply browned.
- Add Tomato and Spices: Pour in the crushed tomatoes along with the red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well and reduce heat to medium. Let the sauce bubble energetically for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Combine Pasta and Spinach: If using, add the baby spinach to the sauce and stir until wilted. Then add the cooked pasta along with about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything quickly for no longer than 1 minute to combine without breaking the pasta.
- Serve: Remove from heat and dish out immediately. Garnish with plenty of fresh basil leaves and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Enjoy your hearty sausage pasta!
Notes
- Reserving pasta water adds starch for a silkier sauce consistency.
- Sausage chunks will look uneven initially but this improves as they cook.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your heat preference.
- Baby spinach is optional but adds a nice fresh green element.
- Serve with extra Parmesan and fresh basil for best flavor.
Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/sausage-pasta-recipe/
