Description
A deliciously spicy and hearty Italian pasta dish featuring paccheri pasta tossed with savory spicy Italian sausage, tender greens, and a creamy tomato sauce enriched with Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal with a balanced blend of bold flavors and comforting textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces paccheri pasta
Sausage & Sauce
- 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Greens & Finishing
- 3 cups baby kale or chopped spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the paccheri pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spicy Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through.
- Sauté Onion and Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion to the skillet with the cooked sausage. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion becomes soft and translucent. Stir in minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen its flavor.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Wilt the Greens: Add baby kale or chopped spinach to the sauce and cook until just wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Finish the Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked paccheri to the skillet. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Use the reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley if desired and serve the pasta hot for a flavorful meal.
Notes
- Adjust the heat level by varying the amount of crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- For variety, substitute the baby kale or spinach with broccoli rabe or Swiss chard.
- Reserved pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and create a silkier texture when tossing the pasta.
