Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta

It's pretty obvious that I'm a fan of quick meals. I do enjoy making more complicated recipes but after a day at work, there just isn't enough time or energy to pull something elaborate off. And I figure most of us are like that. We want something fast, relatively healthy, inexpensive, family friendly, and not out of a box.

This dish is perfect for people like us.

And it's way way way better than anything you can pull out of a box. It's delicious. Like, we were fighting over the leftovers delicious. Nothing earth shattering but just creamy, satisfying, and flavorful.

You can get this on the table in less than 30 minutes. Awesome, right?

Chicken sausage, tomatoes, cream, fresh spinach, basil, and cheese: all the makings of a big bowl of yum.

Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta
1 pound pasta
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound chicken sausage, casings removed
1½ cups half and half
1 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
1 8-ounce bag (about 2 cups packed) baby spinach, coarsely chopped
2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish

Cook pasta in a large pot of well-salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water, and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and tomato paste and continue cooking for an additional minute. Add the chicken sausage, using a wooden spoon to break up the pieces. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the sausage is completely cooked through.

Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the half and half and Parmesan. Simmer lightly, stirring frequently, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Add the spinach, tomatoes and basil and stir to combine, using the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce as needed. Top with extra Parmesan and basil, if desired, and serve.

Source: Cook Like A Champion