Creamy Tomato Penne with Italian Sausage

Name: Creamy Tomato Penne with Italian Sausage
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 ounce penne pasta; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound Italian sausage (casing removed); 0.5 yellow onion (medium, diced); 2 clove garlic (minced); 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained); 0.5 cup heavy cream; 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 0.5 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper; 3 cup mixed greens; 2 tablespoon Italian dressing; 2 slice garlic bread (store-bought)

Al dente penne pasta tossed in a rich, creamy tomato sauce with savory Italian sausage, accompanied by garlicky bread and a crisp side salad.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 25 min
Servings: 3
Cuisine: Italian
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $4.20/serving

Dietary

Nut-Free
Egg-Free
High-Protein
High-Fiber

Ingredients

8 ounce penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage (casing removed)
0.5 yellow onion (medium, diced)
2 clove garlic (minced)
1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
0.5 cup heavy cream
0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
0.5 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
0.25 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
3 cup mixed greens
2 tablespoon Italian dressing
2 slice garlic bread (store-bought)

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound Italian sausage (casing removed) and 1/2 diced yellow onion. Break up the sausage and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in 2 cloves minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained) and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
Add the cooked penne pasta to the sauce, along with a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency. Toss to combine.
Prepare 2 slices store-bought garlic bread according to package directions. Combine 3 cups mixed greens with 2 tablespoons Italian dressing for a quick side salad.
Serve the creamy tomato penne with Italian sausage alongside the warm garlic bread and side salad.

Notes

Reserve the pasta water before draining as it helps bind the sauce to the pasta, giving it a silkier texture. Any mild or spicy Italian sausage will work.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 910
Protein: 42.6 g
Carbohydrates: 74.3 g
Fat: 47.9 g
Fiber: 8.1 g
Sodium: 1390 mg
Saturated Fat: 20.3 g
Sugar: 10.5 g
Cholesterol: 135 mg