Creamy Sausage, Spinach, and Tomato Pasta

This Creamy Sausage, Spinach, and Tomato Pasta tastes like comfort food but comes together with simple ingredients in about 30 minutes. Smoky kielbasa, a rich parmesan cream sauce, tender spinach, and tomatoes make this an easy weeknight dinner that feels a little more special than your average pasta night.

It's hearty, family-friendly, and makes great leftovers for lunch the next day.

Ingredients

• 16 oz penne pasta

• 13.5 oz kielbasa sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 1 can diced tomatoes, drained

• 2 cups baby spinach

• 2 cups heavy cream

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1–2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• Salt, to taste

• Pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente.

2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the kielbasa pieces and cook until browned and slightly crispy around the edges. Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside.

3. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

4. Pour in the heavy cream and add the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir continuously as the sauce heats and begins to thicken.

5. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.

6. Add the diced tomatoes and spinach, stirring until the spinach is just wilted.

7. Add the cooked pasta and browned sausage back to the skillet and toss everything together until evenly coated in the sauce.

8. Serve warm with extra parmesan cheese on top if desired.

Notes

• If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water to loosen it up.

• Add red pepper flakes for a little heat.

• This recipe reheats well for leftovers—just add a splash of milk or cream when warming it up.

• Rotini, rigatoni, or bowtie pasta work well if you don't have penne on hand.

This is one of those meals that looks and tastes like you spent much longer making it than you actually did, making it perfect for busy weeknights.