Imagine a dinner that's ready in just 30 minutes, packed with mouthwatering flavors, and requires minimal cleanup - sounds too good to be true? Get ready to fall in love with this One Skillet Creamy Sausage Pepper Pasta that will transform your weeknight cooking from mundane to magnificent! With perfectly browned Italian sausage, vibrant bell peppers, and a luxuriously creamy Parmesan sauce, this recipe is about to become your new go-to meal that will have everyone at the table begging for seconds.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta of choice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preparing all your ingredients. Slice the Italian sausage, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper. Measure out the pasta, olive oil, heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, and spinach. Set these aside for easy access during cooking.
- In a large skillet, heat the tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the sliced Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook the sausage for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and cooked through.
- While the sausage is cooking, bring a separate pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta of your choice and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Once the sausage is cooked, add the sliced red and yellow bell peppers to the skillet. Sauté the peppers with the sausage for about 3-4 minutes, or until they are slightly softened.
- Add the spinach to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring until the spinach is wilted.
- Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir the mixture to combine, allowing the cream to warm through for about 2 minutes.
- Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Season the creamy sausage and pepper mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is well coated with the creamy sauce.
- Let the pasta sit in the skillet for an additional 2-3 minutes to absorb the flavors, then serve hot. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs if desired.
Tips
- Choose the right pasta: Use a shape that holds sauce well, like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli.
- Don't skip reserving pasta water - it's liquid gold for creating a silky, clingy sauce.
- Cook sausage on medium heat to ensure even browning without burning.
- Add spinach last to maintain its bright green color and fresh texture.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting and flavor.
- Let the pasta rest in the sauce for a few minutes to absorb maximum flavor.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 650kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 30g
Fat: 45g
Saturated Fat: 22g
Cholesterol: 110mg
