Italian Sausage Pasta with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Marinara Sauce.

Here’s a full recipe for Italian Sausage Pasta with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Marinara Sauce — hearty, comforting, and bursting with flavor.

🍝 Ingredients (4 servings)

• 8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)

• 1 lb (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 8 oz (225 g) mushrooms, sliced

• 2 cups fresh spinach (lightly packed)

• 3 cups marinara sauce (homemade or good-quality store-bought)

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Optional: red pepper flakes for heat, fresh basil for garnish

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the pasta

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.

2. Brown the sausage

   • In a large skillet over medium heat, add sausage. Cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 6–8 minutes). Transfer to a plate and set aside.

3. Sauté veggies

   • In the same skillet, heat olive oil. Add onion and cook until softened, 3–4 minutes.

   • Add garlic and mushrooms, cooking until mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown, about 5–6 minutes.

4. Add spinach

   • Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, 1–2 minutes.

5. Combine with sauce

   • Return sausage to the skillet. Pour in marinara sauce, stir, and simmer for 5 minutes.

   • If sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta water. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).

6. Toss with pasta

   • Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat.

7. Serve

   • Sprinkle generously with Parmesan and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve hot with garlic bread.