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Cajun Sausage Pasta with Peppers

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Tender pasta with spinach, bell pepper, garlic, Cajun and Italian seasonings, Parmesan and fresh herbs.  An easy weeknight meal that's packed with flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12-ounces whole grain shaped pasta
  • 1-pound ground mild or spicy Italian sausage*
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium bell peppers, thinly sliced
  • 4 cups fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning*
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ¾ teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Handful fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.  Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
  2. In a large skillet, cook Italian sausage until lightly browned, breaking it up into pieces with a wooden spoon. Add olive oil, bell pepper and spinach and cook 3-4 minutes or until spinach is wilted.  Stir in garlic and Cajun and Italian seasonings.  Add pasta water and pasta to the skillet and season with salt and black pepper, stirring to combine.  Simmer until liquid has absorbed, stirring constantly.
  3. Serve in bowls with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Notes

*Cajun Seasoning: If the Cajun seasoning has salt, you may need to adjust the amount of salt you add to the recipe. If the Cajun seasoning is not spicy, you can add red pepper flakes or cayenne to up the spice level. Taste test before adding salt or spices.

Pasta Tip: I like Barilla Protein Plus pasta for an added boost of protein.

Substitution Tip: Choose ground turkey or chicken Italian sausage for a lower fat option.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thehealthyepicurean.com/italian-sausage-bell-pepper-spinach-pasta/