Description
This Cheesy Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Italian Sausage & Spinach combines buttery garlic sauce, savory sausage, and tender spinach in one creamy pasta dish. It’s the perfect weeknight comfort food — rich, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti
1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cups baby spinach
1 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
Salt, to taste
Cracked black pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the pan and cook until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, leaving the drippings.
2. Reduce heat to medium, add butter, and melt. Stir in garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add spinach and stir until wilted.
4. Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain.
5. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet with the spinach and garlic butter.
6. Add the drained spaghetti and grated cheese. Toss together gently, adding pasta water gradually to create a creamy sauce.
7. Stir in cream if using, season with salt, cracked pepper, and red pepper flakes.
8. Serve hot with extra cheese on top.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for best melting and flavor — pre-shredded cheese may clump.
Don’t overcook the spinach; add it last to preserve its texture and nutrients.
For a lighter version, omit the cream and let the cheese and pasta water do the thickening.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: garlic butter spaghetti, Italian sausage pasta, cheesy pasta