30-Minute Italian Sausage Pasta (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 12 oz farfalle (bow tie) or penne pasta
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 8 oz crimini mushrooms, sliced
04 - 15 oz mild Italian sausage, crumbled
05 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
06 - ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning or Herbs from Provence
07 - Red pepper flakes, to taste
08 - 13 oz tomato sauce (pasta sauce or marinara)
09 - 6 oz fresh spinach
10 - Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

# Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. While the pasta cooks, continue with the next steps.
02 - Heat the olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for 3-5 minutes until they are cooked through but not overcooked or soggy. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet (now empty), add the crumbled Italian sausage and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the sausage is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - To the skillet with the cooked sausage, add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the tomato sauce and fresh spinach. Bring to a gentle boil on medium heat and stir everything well to combine.
05 - Continue cooking on medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes until the spinach wilts to your desired level of tenderness.
06 - Once the pasta is cooked, drain it well and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce. Stir to combine and reheat for about 1 minute, ensuring the pasta is well coated with sauce.
07 - Remove from heat and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (keeping in mind the sausage may already be salty). Top with the reserved cooked mushrooms. Serve hot, with additional red pepper flakes if desired for extra heat.

# Notes:

01 - For the tomato sauce, you can use any store-bought variety you prefer - traditional, tomato basil, arrabbiata, or garlic tomato sauce all work well.
02 - You can use Italian sausage links instead of ground sausage - simply remove the casings and slice before cooking.
03 - For a spicier dish, use hot Italian sausage or add more red pepper flakes.

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