With this Sausage & Kale Pasta recipe, you only need 5 ingredients and you’ll have a hot and hearty dinner on the table in under 25 minutes! That means fewer dishes, less cleanup, and more time enjoying a home-cooked meal with your family.

This Sausage & Kale Pasta recipe is easy to make and can be on the table in less time than it takes for pizza delivery. It’s a go-to weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!

It’s a versatile and completely customizable dinner as well. You can swap out the base ingredients for ones that will please even the pickiest of eaters.
You can even make your own Homemade Pasta to transform this quick and easy recipe into something decadent and worthy of any occasion.

 

Why This Recipe Works

This Sausage & Kale Pasta is a crowd-pleasing, healthy, and simple meal that will have everyone asking for seconds. You can make a big batch and use the leftovers for lunch or meal prep during the week.

• A budget-friendly recipe that’s tasty and filling.
• The whole meal comes together in no time and makes serving a home-cooked meal effortless.
• Besides the pot you use to boil the pasta, this is basically a one-pan meal, which means minimal cleanup.
• Sausage & Kale Pasta is a hot and healthy meal perfect for any day of the week.

What You’ll Need

• Pasta – Any long, thin noodles are best for this recipe. Spaghetti, linguine, or fettucini will hold the parmesan coating perfectly. 
• Italian Sausage – I used Hot sausage for this recipe, but you can get creative with the flavors here. Mild or sweet Italian sausage would be delicious, or you can try turkey or chicken sausage instead.
• Heavy Cream – Don’t use less-fat dairy in this recipe, or the sauce won’t be thick and rich.
• Water – Use reserved pasta water for even more luscious parmesan sauce. The starch from the pasta will help create a decadent texture worthy of a professional kitchen.
• Kale – If you’re not a fan of kale, try using spinach instead.
• Parmesan Cheese – Opt for shredded parmesan or a block of cheese that you grate yourself. The pre-grated shakers of parmesan are coated in preservatives and will affect the texture of your sauce, so go for the good stuff.

How /to Make Sausage & Kale Pasta

1. Cook Pasta – In a salted pot of water, cook pasta according to package instructions. You can undercook the pasta by a minute or two to allow it to finish cooking and soak up some of the parmesan sauce in the last step.
2. Brown the Sausage – In a large skillet, brown and fully cook the sausage meat over medium heat. If you’re using sausage links, remove the casing and crumble the meat into the pan.
3. Start the Sauce – Add water and cream into the sausage skillet and simmer until reduced by half. Keep an eye on the skillet since dairy is quick to bubble over. Stir the contents of the skillet occasionally to prevent the cream from sticking to the pan and scorching .
4. Wilt Kale – Once the sauce is thick and bubbly, toss in your shredded kale. Mix until the kale is soft and wilted.
5. Combine with Pasta and Serve – Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Let the pasta simmer in the sauce for a minute or two so all the flavors can meld together.

PRO-TIP: Use a pasta ladle to scoop the pasta from the cooking water and put it directly into the skillet. This way, you won’t have to wash a strainer, and the pasta water that clings to the noodles will thicken and enrich the sauce further.

Recipe Tips

• For a healthier or gluten-free alternative to this recipe, swap the pasta for spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini noodles.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• The best way to reheat this pasta is to add it to a pan on the stovetop with a few tablespoons of water to reconstitute the rich, cheesy coating.

What Goes With Sausage & Kale Pasta

• Easy Parmesan Garlic Knots – The buttery garlic flavor of these knots pairs perfectly with the salty parmesan in the pasta. 
• Simple Tossed Salad – You don’t want to serve a heavy side with this filling pasta recipe, so a simple tossed salad is a perfect side. Load the salad with veggies and a light dressing to round out the meal.
• French Bread Rolls – These rolls deliver warm and fluffy perfection and are so easy to whip up.
• Tomato Mozzarella Salad – Fresh and juicy, this Caprese salad will brighten up the hearty sausage & kale pasta.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Orange Glazed Chicken
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
• Pork Carnitas
• Chicken Stuffed Shells
• Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
• Sausage Penne Pasta
• Avocado Grilled Cheese

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