Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. dried medium shells, penne, orecchiette, or bow tie pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup white wine (or substitute with additional chicken broth)
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions for al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven or very large skillet over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into crumbles with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth and wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a bubble, then simmer until the liquid reduces by about half, around 4 minutes.
- Fold in the fresh spinach and toss gently until it just begins to wilt, which takes about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, freshly grated Parmesan, and lemon zest. If the sauce seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and red pepper flakes as needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For an extra kick, add more red pepper flakes to taste.
Feel free to substitute sausage with a healthier option such as turkey sausage for a leaner meal.
This dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.