Italian Sausage Pasta with Kale is a creamy, comforting dinner you can make in less than 30 minutes.
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Quick and Easy Italian Sausage Pasta
I truly enjoy the process of cooking. On a lazy Sunday, there’s nothing better than dedicating a few hours to a decadent Cottage Cheese Lasagna or Oven Braised Beef Short Ribs.
But the truth is, 90% of the time I need quick recipes that get dinner on the table without a lot of fuss or dishes, and this Sausage and Kale Pasta fits the bill.
It will take you about 20 minutes to make this Italian Sausage Pasta, and about 2 seconds to realize it’s going to become a regular on your dinner rotation for the winter.
This is the type of meal you want to curl up with after a long day. It’s rich, satisfying, and has enough greens to make our pasta-loving hearts feel virtuous.
Ingredients in Italian Sausage Pasta
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe. There’s a good chance you already have what you need in the pantry and fridge!
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ lb. ground mild Italian sausage (not links)
- Small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 ½ cups chopped kale (from about 6 kale stalks)
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- Dash red pepper flakes
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces pasta
- Reserved pasta water
- Black pepper, to taste
How to Make Pasta with Sausage and Kale
This recipe comes together quickly, so I highly recommend having all of your ingredients prepped before you start. The sausage and creamy Parmesan sauce will cook while the pasta boils, so everything is hot and ready around the same time!
- Start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and onion and saute until sausage is no longer pink and onion is softened. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Add the half and half to the skillet, using a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook until the half and half is reduced by about half and thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the kale and allow it to wilt. Stir in the lemon juice and red pepper flakes, followed by the Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pot with the sausage mixture and toss to coat. Stir in splashes of pasta water as needed to thin the sauce and get it to thoroughly coat all of the pasta. Sprinkle with cracked black pepper to taste, and serve hot with additional Parmesan cheese if desired!
Substitutions and Tips
This recipe is incredibly versatile! Feel free to swap ingredients based on what you have on hand.
- Choose any type of Italian sausage you like-sweet, mild, and hot all work well here.
- You can also use many different kinds of pasta for this. I’ve used penne, bowties, and rotini with great success. I think fettuccine could also work.
- You can substitute heavy cream for the half and half, but I don’t recommend using milk.
- Substitute spinach for the kale if you prefer.
- Time saving tip: buy pre-chopped kale at the grocery store. It usually comes in a large package, so I use whatever I need for a recipe, then store the rest in the freezer. It can go straight from the freezer into smoothies or other recipes, like this Creamy Sausage Kale Sweet Potato Soup.
- Add more heat to the dish by adding more red pepper flakes, or omit them completely for a very mild dish.
- Did your pasta finish cooking a little before the sauce? No worries! Toss it with a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick together. If your sauce is done first, turn heat to low while you wait for the pasta to finish.
More Italian Sausage recipes to check out!
We love Italian sausage around these parts! It adds so much flavor to soups and pastas, and is also wonderful on its own. Here are a few more of our favorites:
- Italian Sausage Stew with White Beans
- Baked Italian Sausage and Potatoes with Green Beans
- Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
- Easy Cheesy Pizza Casserole
- One Pot Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
- Cheesy One Pot Tortellini and Sausage with Garden Veggies
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Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 cup half and half
- 6 large kale leaves (torn from the rib and roughly chopped (About 1 1/2 cups))
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- Dash red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz. penne or bowtie pasta
- Reserved pasta water
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Start a pot of water to a boil, adding about 1 Tablespoon of Kosher salt to the pot. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. If your sauce isn’t completed by the time the pasta is done, toss it with a drizzle of oil to prevent it from sticking.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onion and cook until sausage is browned and onion is softened, about 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Add half and half to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits at the bottom. Bring to a simmer and let cook down until reduced by about half, or approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Add kale to the sausage mixture and let wilt. Add lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to combine. If sauce is too thick, add splashes of pasta water to get it to thin and thoroughly coat the pasta. Serve warm with good crusty bread and a side salad!
Notes
- Feel free to increase the heat in the recipe by adding more red pepper flakes or using hot Italian sausage.
Nutrition
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