An easy, healthy gluten free pasta dinner with turkey sausage, roasted butternut squash, spinach and Parmesan cheese!
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Barilla®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #GlutenFreeBarilla http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
We may be smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, but I’m still making regular dinners. How about you? Just because I’ve got shopping and parties and preschool bake sales and gingerbread decorating parties (for me, not the kids. Is that wrong?!), doesn’t mean I’m not still in the kitchen fixing dinner every night. Cause we gotta eat!
And at this time of year, I want easy, I want healthy (to combat all the sweets!), and I want family friendly, all-in-one dishes. So here we are. Pasta, pasta!
And not just any pasta. This is a certified gluten free pasta from Barilla that’s made with corn and rice and has no GMO ingredients. Because we all have people in our lives that are gluten free, am I right?
I have several friends who practice a gluten-free diet, for various reasons, and my mother-in-law also is gluten free. She’s visiting this month (I’m so looking forward to it - I’m blessed to have amazing in-laws!) and I’m always looking for healthy gluten free recipes we can all enjoy.
This gluten free pasta from Barilla is a big help. I found it at BJ’s Wholesale Club with my two favorite shopping buddies and was happy to snatch up a 4-pack. It’s got great taste and texture and can easily sub for your regular pasta. I really couldn't tell a difference! Better yet, my husband didn't know... he thought I'd accidentally bought white pasta instead of whole wheat. The color gave away that it was different, but he really thought it was regular pasta. That's a win!
Plus, pasta nights can be so quick and easy — which is great when you have guests -- so I’m happy I can add this to our dinner menu while my in-laws are here. It will free me up to do more talking and wine drinking together! Another win!
Cause that’s what the holidays are all about, right? Family and fun times together. And gathering around good food that everyone can enjoy.
You can visit BJ’s Wholesale Clubs on December 22nd and 23rd to see an in-store Barilla Gluten Free pasta demo at select clubs. Try it out and you'll see for yourself. I may have to go back for more. Also, you can check out Barilla’s Gluten Free Pasta Pinterest board and Instagram page for more ideas.
Get your gluten free pasta on, and enjoy!
Sausage, squash and spinach gluten free pasta
An easy, healthy gluten free pasta dinner with turkey sausage, roasted butternut squash, spinach and Parmesan cheese!
Ingredients
- 1 (2 lb.) package pre-cut butternut squash (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 (1 lb.) box of Barilla gluten-free penne pasta
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (1 lb.) package of hot Italian turkey sausage links, removed from casing
- 1 (8 oz.) bag baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, divided
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra to pass at table
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450.
- Mix butternut squash with 2 teaspoons olive oil, ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Spread the squash out evenly on a baking tray. Roast at 450 for 30 minutes, stirring after 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the Barilla gluten-free pasta according to package directions. You’re going to reserve about ½ cup of the cooking liquid when it’s done.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and saute another 30 seconds. Add turkey sausage (removed from the casing) and saute until well browned and cooked through, 7-8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and stir to mix.
- Add the cooked pasta (reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid) to the cooked sausage. Add the spinach, remaining salt and pepper and stir for 1-2 minutes to let the spinach wilt slightly. Turn off heat.
- Add the pasta-sausage mixture to a large bowl and add the roasted butternut squash. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon apple cider vinegar, remaining tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and the maple syrup. Stir to combine, then stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve in bowls with extra Parmesan cheese for passing at the table.
Notes
I buy a 2-pound container of butternut squash that is already pre-cut into ¼-1/2 inch small pieces. It makes me happy. If you can’t find it, you can buy a medium butternut squash and peel and chop it yourself (be sure to clean out the inner seeds and pulp).
If your pan is full with the sausage and pasta, you can go ahead and transfer everything to a large bowl and add the spinach there. The heat from the sausage and the hot pasta will wilt the spinach.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 141Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 570mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 5g
** Have you tried gluten free pasta? **
Looking for other gluten free dinners?
How about gluten free treats?
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Soo much to say, but my brain isn't at its fully functioning capacity, so if this comment is a little rambly, please forgive me! 😉
First of all (or would this be second?), your shopping buddies are too cute for words!! I'd go to the grocery store a million times a day if those cutie-patuties came with me!
Second (or third?), Yessss to amazing in-laws! They are the bestest, and I hope you guys have a stellar time together!!
Lastly, I'm with you on eating. 😉 And especially with you on quick, easy and healthy meals! This pasta looks perfect! Be a doll and send me some! Te-he. Cheers, lovely! Xo
Kathryn
I'll get you a batch today girl 😉 Wish I really could bring you some though, so you could lounge in bed and recover a bit... sending you BIG hugs. XO
Kaila@HealthyHelperBlog
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD!!! I love having sausage in my pasta and it looks like it would pair so well with the butternut and spinach in this dish. Perfect for squash season! And I love that you opted for HOT turkey sausage...I am totally a spicy girl too!
Kathryn
Yay for a little spice with our sausage! The three S's here -- sausage, squash and spinach -- really do go so well together! And then you mix it all with some amazing gluten-free pasta - heavenly! Thanks for stopping by Kaila!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
Yum!! I love adding sausage to our pasta too. I have a friend who's just found out she needs to eat gluten-free foods, so I'll forward her the link to this recipe. She'll love it! Thank you so much for all of your support of Fabulous Foodie Fridays throughout the year. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years! xx
Kathryn
Thanks so much Lucy! I hope she does love it! And thank YOU for all your hard work to host such a delicious, fun party for all of us - I so appreciate it! Have a wonderful Christmas, New Years and much deserved break 🙂 XO
GiGi Eats
YEP! This is happening with spaghetti squash, FOR SURE!
Kathryn
Awesome!! Hope you love it!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
I've been meaning to try the Barilla Gluten free line. I love their pastas...especially the Pronto. Your recipe looks delicious too!
Kathryn
Go get some, Michelle! You will love it - it's really hard to tell there's a difference. I was very impressed. And then you add some sausage, squash and spinach, well, can't beat that! XO
Karly
This is my kind of pasta dinner! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Kathryn
I know, right? My kind of pasta dinner, too! Thanks Karly!
Alli
Oh my! Thank you for this recipe!! I used sweet Italian sausage and added cherry tomatoes. My family loved it!
Kathryn
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Alli! And love the cherry tomatoes add-in - yum! 😊