Weeknight • Pasta
Creamy Tomato, Sausage, and Kale Pasta
This satisfying pasta dish combines savory sausage, vibrant kale, and a luscious tomato cream sauce for a comforting family favorite.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Level
- Weeknight
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Picture this: a rich, velvety tomato sauce clinging to perfectly cooked pasta, interspersed with flavorful crumbled sausage and tender, bright green kale. That's exactly what you get with this dreamy weeknight pasta! It's hearty, full of flavor, and surprisingly easy to get on the table.
Ingredients
Yield: 4 servings
Main
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
- ½ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 5 oz fresh kale, tough stems removed, chopped
- 8 oz pasta (such as penne, rotini, or orecchiette)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
Step 2
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Drain excess grease and remove sausage to a plate, leaving a little in the pan.
Step 3
Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
Step 4
Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, and softened cream cheese (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer, whisking to combine well. Cook for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Step 5
Add the chopped kale and cooked sausage back to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until kale has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet. Stir in ½ cup Parmesan cheese. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 7
Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Feel free to use ground chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter option.
- If you don't have cream cheese, a little extra heavy cream will also create a lovely creamy texture.
- A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a nice little kick to this dish.
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