Description

This ultra-comforting pasta dish delivers bold meaty flavor and rich creamy texture in every bite. Juicy Italian sausage and savory ground beef are combined with penne pasta, wilted spinach, and a silky garlic butter cream sauce—topped with melty cheese for the perfect finish. Whether you’re feeding a family, meal prepping for the week, or just craving comfort food, this hearty dish checks all the boxes. It’s quick, satisfying, and packed with high-protein goodness. Perfect for fans of easy dinner ideas, creamy pasta dishes, and flavor-packed food ideas that reheat beautifully.

Ingredients

12 oz penne pasta

0.5 lb ground beef

0.5 lb Italian sausage

4 cups fresh spinach

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup heavy cream

0.75 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp salt

0.5 tsp black pepper

0.25 tsp red pepper flakes

0.25 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

1. Boil penne in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water and drain.

2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high.

3. Add ground beef and sausage. Cook until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat.

4. Push meat to the side. Add butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until fragrant.

5. Pour in heavy cream. Simmer 2–3 minutes.

6. Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan. Mix until melted and smooth.

7. Add spinach. Stir until wilted.

8. Toss in cooked pasta and reserved water. Stir until well coated.

9. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

10. Top with extra cheese and serve hot.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melting.

Add more red pepper flakes for extra heat or swap in kale for spinach.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American-Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 720
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 820mg
Fat: 44g
Saturated Fat: 24g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 36g
Cholesterol: 135mg

Keywords: creamy beef pasta, garlic butter pasta, sausage spinach pasta, comfort food dinner, easy pasta recipe