When I first tasted Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta Recipe during my travels through Tuscany, Italy, I instantly fell in love.

The region’s food is all about simplicity, freshness, and deep, rustic flavor and this dish perfectly captures that.

With its creamy sauce, savory sausage, and sun-dried tomatoes, it feels like a warm Italian hug in every bite.

This recipe brings that same Tuscan charm right into your kitchen, blending authentic countryside flavors with easy home-style comfort 🇮🇹.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to create this incredibly flavorful pasta. Using fresh, quality ingredients will make a noticeable difference in the final dish.

8 ounces penne pasta – I like penne because the tubes are perfect for catching the creamy sauce, but any short pasta will work.
1 pound ground sausage – You can use mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your heat preference. Ground chicken or turkey sausage are also great leaner options.
2 cups heavy cream – This is the key to an ultra-rich and decadent sauce. Don’t substitute with milk if you want that classic creamy texture.
1/2 cup chicken broth – This helps thin the sauce to the perfect consistency and adds a layer of savory flavor.
1 teaspoon garlic powder – A quick and easy way to add essential garlic flavor throughout the sauce.
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning – This blend of herbs provides a classic Italian aroma and taste.
1 cup Parmesan cheese – For the best results, grate your own cheese. It melts much better and has a superior flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
2 cups spinach – Fresh baby spinach is best here; it wilts perfectly into the sauce. Avoid using frozen spinach, as it can release too much water.
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes – These add a concentrated burst of sweet and tangy flavor that is signature to Tuscan-style dishes.

Note: This recipe makes several servings, perfect for a family dinner or for having delicious leftovers.

Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is how easily you can adapt it to your preferences.

Protein Swap: Not a fan of sausage? This dish is just as delicious with grilled chicken breast, shrimp, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
Make it Spicy: If you love heat, use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce along with the other seasonings.
Add More Veggies: Feel free to toss in other vegetables like sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or steamed asparagus for extra nutrients and flavor.
Dairy-Free Option: For a dairy-free version, you can substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or a cashew-based cream and use a dairy-free Parmesan alternative.

Cooking Time

This delicious meal comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Equipment You Need

You won’t need any fancy gadgets to whip up this pasta dish, just a few kitchen basics.

Large Pot: This is for boiling the pasta to the perfect al dente texture.
Large Skillet: A wide, deep skillet is ideal for cooking the sausage and bringing the entire sauce together.
Whisk: Essential for ensuring the cream sauce is smooth and well-combined.
Cutting Board and Knife: For chopping the spinach and any other fresh ingredients you might add.

How to Make Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta?

This recipe is wonderfully simple, combining savory sausage and a rich cream sauce into a single, satisfying skillet dish. Following these steps will help you create a restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen.

Cook the Pasta and Sausage

First, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package directions until it is al dente. This means it should still have a slight bite. While the pasta is cooking, place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sausage and cook, crumbling it with a spoon, until it is browned and no longer pink. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.

Prepare the Creamy Sauce

In the same skillet, it’s time to build that amazing Tuscan sauce. Add the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Whisk everything together over medium-high heat. Continue whisking as the sauce comes to a gentle simmer and starts to thicken. Once it’s slightly thickened, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts smoothly into the sauce.

Combine and Finish the Dish

Now, add the fresh spinach and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Let the sauce continue to simmer for a few minutes until the spinach wilts down. Return the cooked sausage to the pan. Finally, drain your cooked pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce. Stir everything together until the pasta is fully coated and the entire dish is heated through. Your creamy Tuscan sausage pasta is now ready to serve.

A Taste of Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

Tuscany, a picturesque region in central Italy, is famous for its rolling vineyards, olive groves, and rich culinary heritage. The Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta embodies the essence of this region, simple ingredients transformed into deep, comforting flavors.

Tuscan cuisine celebrates local produce like sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and herbs, reflecting the land’s natural abundance. Every bite of this pasta feels like a journey through Florence, Siena, and the Tuscan countryside, where food, art, and tradition beautifully intertwine.

Additional Tips for Making this Recipe Better

Over the many times I’ve made this dish, I’ve discovered a few little secrets that take it from great to absolutely amazing.

I always reserve about a half-cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta. If the sauce gets too thick after adding the noodles, a small splash of this water will thin it out perfectly while helping the sauce cling to the pasta.
To get an extra layer of flavor, I like to use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil. I drain them but then use a little of that flavorful oil to sauté a clove of freshly minced garlic in the skillet before I make the cream sauce.
Don’t be shy with the Parmesan. After I’ve stirred the cheese into the sauce, I always serve the pasta with extra freshly grated Parmesan on the table. It really adds to the experience.
Let the sauce thicken properly before adding the pasta. I let it simmer for a good 5-7 minutes on its own. This ensures a rich, clingy sauce rather than a watery one.

How to Serve Creamy Tuscan Sausage Pasta?

In Tuscany, meals are more than just food they’re a celebration of togetherness and tradition.

This pasta is best enjoyed al fresco, with a glass of Chianti wine and a view of rolling hills or your own cozy dining space.

Locals often pair it with rustic garlic bread and a crisp arugula salad, savoring every bite slowly, just like true Italians do.

It’s a comforting taste of the heart of central Italy, wherever you are.

Nutritional Information

Here is an estimated nutritional overview for a single serving of this dish.

Calories: 778 kcal
Protein: 25g
Carbohydrates: 37g
Fat: 59g

Make Ahead and Storage

This recipe is great for meal prep, and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day.

Storing: Allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, making it perfect for weekday lunches.

Freezing: While you can freeze this dish, be aware that cream-based sauces can sometimes change texture upon thawing. If you do freeze it, store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating: Gently reheat the pasta in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy consistency as it warms up.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

You are going to want to add this dish to your regular dinner rotation for so many reasons.

Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of savory sausage, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich, garlicky cream sauce creates a multi-layered flavor that is simply unforgettable.
Quick and Easy: This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights because it comes together in just 40 minutes, yet tastes like a dish you worked on for hours.
Restaurant-Quality at Home: You can create a meal that rivals what you’d find at your favorite Italian restaurant, all from the comfort of your own kitchen. It’s perfect for a date night in or a special family meal.
Great for Leftovers: The flavors meld together even more overnight, making the leftovers just as enjoyable, if not more so, than the day it was made. It’s a dish that keeps on giving