Description
A hearty and flavorful sausage and vegetable pasta dish combining savory Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, and a light white wine sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and finished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese for a comforting, easy-to-make meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
Sausage and Vegetables
- 16 ounces Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.), halved
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach
- 1 handful fresh basil, torn
Finishing Ingredients
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional, to taste)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Brown Sausage and Onions: While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and chopped onion, cooking until the sausage is browned and onions are softened, breaking the sausage into pieces as it cooks, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer the browned sausage and onions to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
- Sauté Vegetables: Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), white wine, halved tomatoes, and sliced red bell pepper to the skillet. Cook until the tomatoes soften and lose their shape and the peppers become tender-crisp, about 5-6 minutes, adding additional white wine or reserved pasta water as needed to keep the pan from drying out.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked sausage and onions to the skillet with the vegetables. Add fresh baby spinach and torn basil leaves, tossing everything together until the spinach wilts down and flavors blend evenly.
- Toss with Pasta and Serve: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to combine thoroughly with the sausage and vegetable mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, optionally topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitute the white wine with chicken broth or vegetable broth.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free if needed.
- Fresh herbs add brightness; if unavailable, substitute with dried basil but add it earlier with the seasoning.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency as needed during cooking.
