Sausage-Penne Skillet

Savory Italian pork sausage and al dente penne simmered in seasoned crushed tomatoes and spinach, finished with a generous layer of melted mozzarella cheese.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 18 min
• Total: 28 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $3.78/serving

Dietary

• High-Protein
• Egg-Free
• Nut-Free

Tags

• one-pot
• comfort food
• rich
• quick
• kid-friendly

Ingredients

• 2 pound Italian pork sausage (bulk)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, diced)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz can)
• 2 cup chicken broth
• 12 ounce penne pasta (uncooked)
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cup baby spinach
• 1.5 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Instructions

1. In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the Italian pork sausage and diced yellow onion for 6 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a spoon until fully browned and reaching an internal temperature of 160°F.
2. Pour in the canned crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, uncooked penne pasta, dried Italian seasoning, and salt. Stir well to submerge the pasta.
3. Bring to a vigorous boil, then cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
4. Uncover and stir in the baby spinach until completely wilted into the sauce.
5. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, cover for 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling, then serve.

Notes

Cooking the pasta directly in the broth and tomatoes infuses the penne with deep savory flavor.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 873
• Protein: 43.6 g
• Carbohydrates: 61.6 g
• Fat: 48.6 g
• Fiber: 6.4 g
• Sodium: 2224 mg
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Sugar: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 133 mg