Description
This Indulgent Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Cheesy Italian Sausage is a quick and flavorful pasta dish featuring perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed with savory Italian sausage, fresh spinach, cherry tomatoes, and a rich garlic butter sauce, all finished with melted Parmesan cheese for a creamy indulgence. Perfect for a hearty family dinner or an impressive weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz Spaghetti (Any long pasta can be substituted)
Meat
- 1 lb Italian Sausage (Can substitute with chicken sausage)
Sauce & Seasoning
- 4 Tbsp Butter (Olive oil can be used as a lighter substitute)
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced) (Fresh cloves are recommended)
- to taste Salt (Essential for seasoning)
- to taste Black Pepper (Essential for seasoning)
Vegetables
- 4 cups Fresh Spinach (Can swap with kale or arugula)
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (Other tomatoes can be used or omitted)
Cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese or Mozzarella (shredded) (Freshly grated cheese is preferred)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle in olive oil. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart into small pieces. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the sausage is browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the fresh spinach and halved cherry tomatoes to the garlic butter. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach wilts down and the tomatoes soften slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and add the drained spaghetti. Toss everything together, gradually adding the reserved pasta water a little at a time to create a creamy sauce that coats the pasta evenly.
- Finish with Cheese and Seasoning: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce, making it creamy. Adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve the pasta hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian sausage with chicken sausage for a lighter option.
- Use olive oil instead of butter for a lighter sauce.
- Fresh garlic cloves greatly enhance flavor compared to pre-minced garlic.
- Spinach can be replaced with kale or arugula based on preference.
- If you prefer a less creamy sauce, reduce the amount of reserved pasta water added.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and add extra vegetables or plant-based protein.
