Turkey Sausage and Spinach Pasta

I have been making this recipe for several years.  It is healthy and tastes great!  This recipe is very similar to Turkey Sausage and Arugula Pasta by EatingWell.com.  I have modified it slightly to better utilize ingredients and make it a little more kid friendly.  I use spinach rather than the arugula, as it has a slightly milder taste.  I also use a full pound box of pasta, an additional 4 ounces of sausage and reduce the greens.  Our kids eat this surprisingly well, they don't eat all of the tomatoes and spinach but they do gobble up the pasta and turkey sausage.  

Turkey Sausage and Spinach Pasta

This recipe was adapted from Turkey Sausage and Arugula Pasta from EatingWell:  December 2005/January 2006, EatingWell Serves Two.

1 pound fusilli pasta (twists)¹

12 oz hot Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed²

4 cloves garlic, minced

12 oz package baby spinach

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 c finely shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste

1 t freshly ground black pepper

1/4 t seasoned salt

1 T olive oil

Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, cook sausage, garlic, pepper and salt over medium-high heat, breaking up the sausage until no longer pink.  Reduce heat to medium and stir in spinach and tomatoes.  Cook, stirring often, until spinach and tomatoes soften.  Toss meat mixture together with cooked pasta and cheese.  Server warm topped with additional cheese. Serves 6 

¹Gluten-free pasta can be used in this recipe.  

²If you are cooking for a strict gluten-free diet, carefully check the sausage label.  If your grocery store does not have a fresh gluten-free sausage option, a fully-cooked gluten-free sausage can be used.  If using fully-cooked sausage, just slice it with the casing intact and lightly brown it with the garlic.  Then follow the rest of the recipe as written.  Look for the al fresco brand.  They make good fresh and fully-cooked gluten-free sausage products.