Quick & Easy Sausage and Kale Pasta: A 25-Minute Weeknight Dinner Recipe
Transform your busy weeknights with this incredible Sausage & Kale Pasta recipe. Requiring just 5 core ingredients, you’ll have a hot, hearty, and unbelievably satisfying dinner on the table in under 25 minutes! That means less time spent on dishes and cleanup, and more precious moments enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal with your loved ones.
Forget the hassle of takeout and long waits for delivery. This Sausage & Kale Pasta recipe is so straightforward and quick to prepare, it will be ready faster than your pizza arrives. It’s the ultimate go-to weeknight dinner that consistently earns rave reviews from the entire family, making it a staple in any busy household.
Beyond its speed, this dish is wonderfully versatile and completely customizable. You can easily adapt the base ingredients to suit various dietary preferences or to please even the pickiest eaters. For a truly special touch, consider making your own Homemade Pasta, transforming this quick and easy recipe into an elegant dish worthy of any celebration.
Why This Sausage & Kale Pasta Recipe Is Your New Favorite Weeknight Meal
This Sausage & Kale Pasta isn’t just another dinner; it’s a game-changer for busy evenings. It’s a crowd-pleasing, healthy, and incredibly simple meal that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Plus, it’s perfect for making a big batch to enjoy as leftovers for lunch or easy meal prep throughout the week. Here’s why this recipe deserves a permanent spot in your cooking rotation:
- Budget-Friendly: Made with common, affordable ingredients, this recipe offers a delicious and filling meal without breaking the bank. You get great flavor and satiety for less.
- Effortlessly Quick: The entire meal comes together in under 25 minutes, making it an ideal solution for those hectic weeknights when you want a home-cooked meal but are short on time.
- Minimal Cleanup: Besides the pot you use to boil the pasta, this is essentially a one-pan meal. The sauce and sausage are cooked in a single skillet, drastically reducing your post-dinner cleanup.
- Healthy & Hearty: Combining savory Italian sausage with nutrient-dense kale and a creamy, satisfying sauce, this dish provides a balanced and wholesome meal that’s both comforting and good for you.
- Highly Customizable: Easily adapt the ingredients to fit your taste or what you have on hand. Swap out sausage types, add different greens, or adjust the spice level – the possibilities are endless!
- Fantastic for Leftovers: This pasta reheats beautifully, making it excellent for packed lunches the next day or quick dinners when you need a grab-and-go option.
Essential Ingredients for Your Sausage & Kale Pasta
One of the beauties of this recipe is its simplicity, relying on just a handful of fresh ingredients to create a rich, complex flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Pasta: For this recipe, any long, thin noodles like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine work best. Their shape perfectly cradles the rich parmesan coating, ensuring every bite is flavorful. Opt for high-quality pasta for the best texture.
- Italian Sausage: I prefer hot Italian sausage for a delightful kick, but feel free to get creative with your flavor choices. Mild or sweet Italian sausage would be equally delicious, offering a different profile. For a lighter alternative, consider using turkey or chicken sausage. If using links, remember to remove the casings before browning.
- Heavy Cream: This is crucial for achieving a thick, luxurious, and truly rich sauce. Avoid using lower-fat dairy alternatives, as they won’t provide the same decadent texture and might curdle under heat.
- Water (especially Reserved Pasta Water): While regular water can be used, reserving some of the starchy water from your cooked pasta is a chef’s secret! The starch helps to emulsify the sauce, creating an incredibly silky, decadent texture that adheres beautifully to the pasta, reminiscent of a professional kitchen.
- Kale: A powerhouse of nutrients, kale adds a wonderful earthy flavor and vibrant color to the dish. If kale isn’t your favorite, or if you’re looking for an even quicker wilt, fresh spinach makes an excellent substitute. Make sure to trim and chop your kale before adding.
- Parmesan Cheese: The quality of your cheese makes a significant difference. Always opt for freshly shredded parmesan or, even better, a block of Parmesan you grate yourself. Pre-grated shakers of parmesan often contain anti-caking agents and preservatives that can affect the texture and flavor of your sauce, preventing it from melting smoothly into a luscious coating. Go for the good stuff – your taste buds will thank you!
- Optional Additions: Consider a clove or two of minced garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat, or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end for brightness.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Sausage & Kale Pasta
Follow these simple steps to create a show-stopping dinner in no time:
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta (spaghetti, linguine, etc.) and cook according to package instructions until al dente. For an even more flavorful sauce, consider undercooking the pasta by a minute or two. This allows it to finish cooking and truly absorb the rich parmesan sauce in the final step. Don’t forget to reserve at least ½ cup of pasta cooking water before draining!
- Brown the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bulk Italian sausage (or remove casings from links and crumble the meat into the pan). Break up the sausage with a spoon and cook until it is fully browned and no pink remains, typically about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the skillet to keep the sauce light and flavorful.
- Start the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the reserved pasta water (or regular water if not using pasta water) and heavy cream to the skillet with the cooked sausage. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Allow it to simmer until the sauce is reduced by approximately half and has thickened slightly, about 5-7 minutes. Keep a close eye on the skillet, as dairy can bubble over quickly, and stir frequently to prevent the cream from sticking or scorching at the bottom of the pan.
- Wilt Kale: Once your sauce has reached a lovely thick and bubbly consistency, add the trimmed and chopped kale to the skillet. Toss the kale gently with the sausage and sauce until it softens and wilts. This usually takes just 2-3 minutes, as kale wilts relatively quickly.
- Combine with Pasta and Serve: Using a pasta ladle or tongs, transfer the cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce (this helps carry some extra starchy pasta water to the sauce!). Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with the rich sauce. Let the pasta simmer in the sauce for a minute or two, allowing all the wonderful flavors to meld together and the pasta to absorb some of that creamy goodness. Finally, sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.
PRO-TIP: To simplify cleanup and enhance your sauce, use a pasta ladle or tongs to scoop the pasta directly from its cooking water into the skillet with the sauce. This clever trick means you won’t have to wash a separate strainer, and the starchy pasta water clinging to the noodles will naturally thicken and further enrich your glorious parmesan sauce. It’s a win-win for flavor and convenience!
Expert Tips for the Best Sausage & Kale Pasta
Achieving a restaurant-quality dish at home is easy with a few simple tricks:
- Healthier & Gluten-Free Alternatives: For those looking for a healthier or gluten-free version, swap out traditional pasta for spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini noodles. Cook these alternatives until tender-crisp, then toss them directly into the sauce. This provides a lighter, vegetable-forward meal without sacrificing flavor.
- Storing Leftovers: Allow any leftover Sausage & Kale Pasta to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This ensures freshness and prevents spoilage.
- Reheating Perfection: The best way to reheat this pasta is on the stovetop. Add the leftovers to a pan with a few tablespoons of water or chicken broth over medium-low heat. Stir gently until warmed through and the creamy, cheesy coating has reconstituted. This prevents the pasta from drying out and keeps the sauce luscious.
- Enhance the Flavor Profile: Before adding the sausage, sauté some minced garlic and diced onion in the skillet for a minute or two. This builds a deeper flavor foundation for your sauce. A pinch of red pepper flakes with the sausage can also add a pleasant warmth.
- Kale Prep Matters: When preparing kale, remove the tough central stems before chopping. This ensures a more tender texture in your pasta.
- Cheese Variations: While Parmesan is classic, don’t hesitate to experiment with other hard, salty cheeses like Pecorino Romano for a sharper, tangier kick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sausage & Kale Pasta
If you’re using heavy cream, you can successfully make the sauce with regular water instead of pasta water. However, for the absolute best results, we highly recommend using reserved pasta water. The starches in the pasta water are key to creating a beautifully emulsified, thick, and rich sauce that truly coats every strand of pasta. If you’re using a dairy alternative with less fat, the pasta water becomes even more crucial for achieving a nice, thick consistency.
This recipe is undeniably best when served immediately after it comes together. At this point, the sauce is at its optimal consistency, and the meal is at its peak flavor. The pasta has absorbed just enough sauce without becoming overly soft. To save time, you can brown the sausage and chop the kale in advance. When ready to eat, simply cook the pasta, reheat the sausage, and proceed with the sauce steps. For a fresher meal, we advise preparing side dishes like a salad or dinner rolls ahead of time, ensuring this pasta goes from stove to table in its prime.
Absolutely! This recipe is incredibly easy to scale. You can effortlessly double or even triple the measurements for all ingredients and follow the instructions as written. This makes it a fantastic choice for feeding a larger crowd, preparing for a party, or simply ensuring you have plenty of delicious leftovers for the week.
Curly kale or Lacinato kale (also known as dinosaur or Tuscan kale) both work beautifully in this dish. Curly kale has a slightly firmer texture and a peppery bite, while Lacinato kale is a bit more tender and has a milder flavor. Whichever you choose, ensure you remove the tough central ribs before chopping for a more enjoyable eating experience.
Certainly! This recipe is very adaptable. Feel free to incorporate other quick-cooking vegetables. Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, or thinly sliced bell peppers would be excellent additions. Add them to the skillet after browning the sausage and cook until tender before proceeding with the sauce.
What to Serve With Your Sausage & Kale Pasta
This hearty Sausage & Kale Pasta is a complete meal on its own, but pairing it with a simple side can elevate your dining experience:
- Easy Parmesan Garlic Knots: The rich, buttery garlic flavor of these knots pairs perfectly with the salty parmesan and savory sausage in the pasta. They’re excellent for soaking up any leftover sauce!
- Simple Tossed Salad: Since this pasta recipe is quite filling, a light and refreshing side is ideal. A simple tossed salad, loaded with fresh veggies and dressed with a bright vinaigrette, offers a cleansing counterpoint and rounds out the meal beautifully.
- French Bread Rolls: Warm, fluffy French bread rolls are a classic accompaniment to any pasta dish. They’re easy to whip up and provide the perfect vehicle for scooping up every last drop of that delicious creamy sauce.
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad (Caprese): A fresh and juicy Caprese salad, with ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil, will add a burst of brightness and acidity that perfectly complements the rich and hearty sausage & kale pasta.
- A Dry White Wine: For an adult pairing, consider a crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Their acidity cuts through the richness of the cream sauce and complements the savory sausage.
More Easy Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of this Sausage & Kale Pasta, here are more easy dinner recipes from Dinners, Dishes and Desserts that are perfect for any night of the week:
- Orange Glazed Chicken
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Pork Carnitas
- Chicken Stuffed Shells
- Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
- Sausage Penne Pasta
- Avocado Grilled Cheese
Spaghetti with Kale and Sausage
Erin Sellin
5 minutes
20 minutes
25 minutes
6
Pin Recipe
Rate Recipe
Print Recipe
Ingredients
-
1
pound
spaghetti
-
12
oz
bulk Italian Sausage,
(I used Hot) -
1/2
cup
heavy cream
-
1/2
cup
water -
1
large bunch kale,
trimmed and chopped -
1/2
cup
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
-
Cook pasta according to the package directions.
-
In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage until fully cooked, about 7 minutes.
-
Add water and cream, simmer until it is reduced by half (about 5 minutes).
-
Add the kale, and toss until it is wilted.
-
Add the pasta, and toss to combine.
-
Sprinkle with cheese to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Serving:
1
g
|
Calories:
417
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
28
g
|
Protein:
18
g
|
Fat:
26
g
|
Saturated Fat:
12
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
15
g
|
Cholesterol:
62
mg
|
Sodium:
586
mg
|
Fiber:
1
g
|
Sugar:
3
g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Erin Sellin
5 minutes
20 minutes
25 minutes
Dinner Recipes
American
6
417
spaghetti
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