Ultimate Sausage Spinach Pasta Creamy Weeknight Dinners
Author:admin
Total Time:1 hour
Yield:4 servings 1x
Description
Sausage Spinach Pasta baked with creamy sauce weeknightfriendly cheeserich quick prep satisfying comfort dish for busy home cooks Great meal prep
Ingredients
Scale
12 ounces short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or ziti)
1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot), casings removed
2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped (or 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry)
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream or milk
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Fresh basil or parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and start the pasta, cooking 2 minutes shy of the package directions so it finishes in the bake.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, sauté until translucent and fragrant ~3–4 minutes.
Add the sausage; cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it into small crumbles as it brows.
Pour in the marinara and cream, stirring to bring everything together. Fold in ricotta and let it melt into the sauce, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, 1–2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the top is lightly golden. If you like a crisper top, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end—watch closely.
Let it rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley for a bright finish.
