Sausage and Creamy Garlic Shells with Spinach

The Menu:
Sausage and Creamy Garlic Shells with Spinach

The Original Recipe:
I got the idea for this dish through Pinterest. They had Creamy Garlic Shells, but I wanted a One Pot stove top supper... This was DELICIOUS!! Something to make again, for sure!! The picture, for this one, says it all! Comfort food!

Sausage and Creamy Garlic Shells with Spinach

1 Hillshire Farms beef Sausage, cut into bite size pieces
1 small onion, chopped
2 cup spinach leaves, washed and roughly chopped
8oz mini shells pasta
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup milk
salt & pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder depending on taste (not garlic salt)
 ( Additional Red Pepper Flakes for serving if desired)

Directions: 
Cook pasta in a pot of salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain then set aside. Let pot cool off the heat for several minutes.

Sautee onion and sausage; set aside.

Return pot to stove over medium heat then melt butter in olive oil. Add garlic then saute until golden brown, about 30 seconds, being very careful not to burn. Sprinkle in flour then whisk and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken broth and milk while whisking until mixture is smooth. Season with salt & pepper then switch to a wooden spoon and stir constantly until mixture is thick and bubbly, about 4-5 minutes.

Take pot off the heat then stir in parmesan cheese, garlic powder,  until smooth then add cooked pasta, sausage mix and spinach and stir to combine. Cover and cook on very low until spinach wilts. Stir and taste then adjust salt & pepper if necessary. Serve with Red Pepper Flakes for an additional Kick if desired.

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