Comforting pasta dish with savory beef, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and creamy Parmesan sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz elbow macaroni or small pasta
→ Meats
02 - 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
06 - 4 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Dairy & Cream
07 - 1 cup heavy cream
08 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
09 - 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
11 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, preferably from sun-dried tomatoes
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
15 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# Steps:
01 - Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and reserve for later assembly.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef or Italian sausage to the pot, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks until thoroughly browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavors.
05 - Pour in crushed tomatoes and broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat and cook for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until the sauce achieves a smooth, creamy consistency and cheese is fully melted.
07 - Add chopped spinach to the pot and stir gently until completely wilted into the sauce.
08 - Gently fold the cooked pasta into the Tuscan sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing all components to marry together. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
09 - Ladle the creamy Tuscan chili mac into serving bowls and garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
