My creamy kielbasa pasta is a quick and easy family dinner loaded with savory kielbasa sausage swimming in a luxuriously cheesy sauce.
I love this easy weeknight dinner because it is easy to customize with your favorite fresh veggies and the Parmesan cheese sauce is almost foolproof. Best of all, this delicious meal can be prepared in less than 30 minutes!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Penne pasta - Any other pasta can be substituted. Rotini pasta or bowtie pasta would be good options.
- Butter - Olive oil can be substituted.
- Kielbasa sausage - You can substitute another smoked sausage.
- Yellow onion - Substitute a red onion for a stronger onion flavor.
- Red bell pepper - Any bell pepper can be substituted.
- Fresh spinach
- All-purpose flour
- Heavy cream - Milk can be substituted.
- Chicken broth - Chicken stock is also great to use.
- Dijon mustard - Any gourmet mustard is fine.
- Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning - You can substitute your favorite herbs.
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
How to make it
To make this kielbasa pasta recipe, begin by boiling the pasta according to the package instructions and cook until al dente.
In a separate saute pan, or large skillet, set over medium-high heat, add the butter sliced sausage, onion, and peppers. Saute the sausage mixture until the onion and peppers are tender and the sausage is seared. Then add the spinach and cook for an additional minute, or until wilted.
Remove the sausage mixture from the skillet and set aside, keeping the excess melted butter in the pan.
Whisk flour into the melted butter and cook for two minutes while continuing to whisk. Then slowly add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and mustard in batches while still whisking. Once the liquid has been added stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
Finally, whisk in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Then bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until it has thickened. The longer it is simmered, the thicker it will get.
Strain the tender pasta from the pasta water and add them to the creamy sauce along with the cooked kielbasa, onions, bell peppers, and spinach. Stir everything to combine, then serve immediately.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Kielbasa pasta is best enjoyed immediately after preparing. You can store the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week, but the sauce loses creaminess and the noodles will soften as they soak up moisture from the sauce. It is best reheated in individual servings in the microwave until warmed through.
Creamy Kielbasa Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 14 ounces kielbasa sliced
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, boil pasta until al dente, according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta is boiling, melt butter in a saute pan set over medium high heat, then add sliced kielbasa, onion, and bell pepper. Saute until the vegetables are tender and the sausage is seared. Then stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted. Remove all ingredients from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the extra butter in the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk the flour into the butter and continue whisking while cooking for two minutes. Then slowly add the chicken broth while continuing to whisk. Next, whisk in the heavy cream and mustard.
- Add the Parmesan cheese to the sauce and whisk until completely melted and smooth, then add seasonings. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until it has thickened.
- Strain the cooked pasta from the water and add the pasta to the sauce along with the cooked kielbasa mixture that was set aside. Toss everything together until well combined, then serve.
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