Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Cheesy Italian Sausage and Spinach Recipe
This Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Cheesy Italian Sausage and Spinach is a quick and flavorful pasta dish that combines savory Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and a rich garlic butter sauce topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this comforting meal is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner for the whole family.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti and Pasta
- 400g spaghetti
Meat and Vegetables
- 250g Italian sausage
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy and Cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Oils and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, crumble it with a spoon as it cooks, and sauté until it is thoroughly browned and cooked through. Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the butter and minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly until the garlic becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Wilt Spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet with the garlic butter and sauté until the spinach wilts and reduces in volume.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Add the drained spaghetti and toss everything together to evenly coat the noodles with the garlic butter and combine all ingredients.
- Melt Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the spaghetti mixture in the skillet. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit on low heat for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Season and Serve: Season the pasta mixture with salt and black pepper to taste. Toss gently to combine all flavors, then serve the dish hot for a delicious and hearty meal.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, use spicy Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes when sautéing the garlic.
- To make the dish lighter, substitute butter with a smaller amount of olive oil and use part-skim mozzarella cheese.
- Freshly grated Parmesan offers better melting and flavor compared to pre-grated options.
- You can add chopped fresh herbs like basil or parsley for extra freshness.
- Make sure not to overcook the spinach; it should just wilt to maintain its vibrant color and nutrients.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop to prevent the cheese from clumping.
Keywords: Garlic butter spaghetti, Italian sausage pasta, cheesy spinach pasta, quick pasta dinner, easy Italian recipe