Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula

I updated this recipe for Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula so now you can make it with Palmini Low-Carb Pasta for super low carbs! Or use Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or whole wheat spaghetti if you don’t mind a few more carbs. And whichever you prefer, this sausage and arugula pasta has some of my favorite ingredients and fantastic flavors.

PIN the sausage and arugula pasta try it later!

There’s nothing I like much more than Italian Sausage, unless it’s arugula, so it’s easy to see why this recipe for Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula is one of my personal favorites to make for a quick dinner. And did I mention there’s garlic, a touch of lemon, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese in this sausage and arugula pasta dish? I love this combination of flavors.

For years I made this favorite dinner with a moderate amount of whole wheat spaghetti, lots of sausage, and plenty of arugula, and I loved it for a dinner that was something I’d splurge on occasionally. But now I’m pleased with the pasta dishes I make with Palmini Pasta (affiliate link) that’s made with hearts of palm, so I thought it would be fun to experiment with that for this recipe. And it was a huge success!

And if you want the wheat pasta flavor with more fiber and fewer carbs, you can also make this tasty pasta dish with Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti (affiliate link). Or just make it with whole wheat spaghetti if you don’t care about carbs. (Nutritional information is for the version with Palmini Pasta, but look in the recipe notes for nutrition info for Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or Whole Wheat Spaghetti.)

What ingredients do you need?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• hot turkey or pork Italian Sausage
• Olive Oil (affiliate link)
• Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link), Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti (affiliate link), or whole wheat spaghetti
• salt, for pasta cooking water (at least 1 tsp.)
• baby arugula
• Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
• chicken broth (or pasta cooking water will work if you use Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or whole wheat spaghetti)
• fresh squeezed lemon juice  (I used my fresh-frozen lemon juice)
• Parmesan cheese for serving, preferably freshly grated or shaved Parmesan

Making the sausage and arugula pasta with Palmini Pasta:

For the version with Palmini Pasta we increased the recipe to four servings, using one can of Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link). That makes the Palmini Pasta a bit more budget-friendly, since I know it can be somewhat of a pricey ingredients. (I’ve heard that other brands of hearts of palm pasta are cheaper, but I haven’t tried any others.)

Other pasta options for sausage and arugula pasta:

We did love the recipe made with Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link). But if you want to use regular spaghetti or Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti (affiliate link) and make a lower-carb version, just double the amount of sausage and arugula and use less pasta.

What Sausage can you use for sausage and arugula pasta?

For years I made this recipe with the hot variety of Jenni-O turkey Italian sausage, but now I can’t find that at any of the stores in my area (SOB!) But the version you see in these photos turned out beautifully with Kroger Hot Pork Italian Sausage. You can either or hot or mild (sweet) Italian sausage, and use turkey or pork sausage, whichever you prefer or can find in your store.

What if you don’t like arugula?

The peppery flavor of arugula with the spicy Italian sausage is one reason I like this dish so much. but I know some people don’t enjoy arugula and I think this would be tasty made with baby spinach for a milder version.

Want more recipes with Palmini Pasta?

If you’re a fan of Palmini Low-Carb Pasta, check out Spaghetti Casserole, Pasta with Sausage and Mushrooms, Low-Carb Italian Pasta Salad, or Pasta with Sausage and Kale.

Want more recipes using Italian Sausage?

Check out my collection of 40 Low-Carb and Keto Italian Sausage Recipes for lots more ideas using my favorite sausage!

How to make Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula with Palmini Linguini:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe. You can look in the notes at the complete recipe for directions and nutritional information if you’re using Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or Whole Wheat Spaghetti.)

1. Drain the Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link) into a colander and rinse well. 
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then squeeze sausage out of the casing and cook until it’s well-browned, breaking apart as it cooks. 
3. While the sausage is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil, and salt the water generously.
4. Put the arugula into a large bowl that’s metal, glass, or crockery (not plastic). 
5. When the water starts to boil, add the Palmini Pasta and cook 3-4 minutes.
6. When the sausage is nicely browned, put it on top of the arugula in the bowl.
7. Add the garlic to the pan where you cooked the sausage and cook about 30 seconds; then add 3/4 cup of chicken broth and lemon juice and cook about 2 minutes.
8. When the Palmini Pasta has cooked 3-4 minutes, drain well and put it over the sausage in the bowl.
9. Let it sit for 2 minutes to wilt the arugula.
10. Add the broth-lemon-garlic mixture from the pan to the bowl.
11. Toss the mixture together, until the arugula is partly wilted and all ingredients are well-combined.)
12. Serve hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Making sausage and arugula pasta with Fiber Gourmet or whole wheat spaghetti:

1. These photos are from the days when I made this with whole wheat spaghetti. Now I would use Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti (affiliate link) for real wheat pasta flavor and more fiber, so fewer carbs. Follow cooking time on the package for both these options.
2. I used to make this with my favorite turkey Hot Italian sausage but now I can’t find it (sob!) Use any Italian Sausage you like.
3. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then squeeze the sausage out of the casing and cook until it’s well-browned, breaking apart with the turner as it cooks. 
4. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt the water generously, and add the spaghetti.
5. Cook the spaghetti at a low boil just until it’s barely al-dente using the cooking time on the package.
6. While the spaghetti and the sausage are cooking, put the arugula into a metal, glass, or crockery bowl (not plastic). 
7. When the sausage is nicely browned, put it on top of the arugula in the bowl.
8. Add the garlic to the pan and saute about 30 seconds; then add 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water (or chicken broth) and lemon juice and cook about 2 minutes.
9. As soon as it’s barely al-dente, drain the pasta well, reserving another 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water.
10. Then put the hot pasta over the arugula and sausage in the bowl and let it sit for 2 minutes to wilt the arugula.
11. Add the water-lemon-garlic mixture from the pan. Toss the mixture together (with the extra pasta cooking water if you need it.)
12. Serve hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

More Tasty Ways to Use Arugula:

• Kalyn’s Favorite Baby Arugula Salad
• Wild Rice Salad with Bacon and Arugula
• Kale and Arugula Salad

Continue to Content

Print

Yield: 4 servings

Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula is a quick and amazing dinner. You can make this with Palmini Low-Carb Linguini, Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti, or with whole wheat spaghetti, depending on how strict you're being on carbs. All the versions of the recipe are delicious!

Ingredients

• 5 links hot turkey or pork Italian Sausage
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 8 oz. can Palmini Hearts of Palm Linguini (or 8 oz. Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or whole wheat spaghetti)
• salt, for pasta cooking water (at least 1 tsp.)
• 5 oz. baby arugula, preferably organic
• 1 T finely minced garlic (more or less, to taste)
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 3 T fresh squeezed lemon juice (more or less to taste)
• Parmesan cheese for serving, preferably freshly grated

Instructions

For Palmini Low-Carb Pasta:

1. Drain the Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link) into a colander placed in the sink and rinse well. 
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then squeeze the sausage out of the casing and cook until it's well-browned, breaking apart with the turner as it cooks.  (Don't rush this step.)
3. While the sausage is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil, and salt the water generously. 
4. Put the arugula into a large bowl that's metal, glass, or crockery (not plastic). 
5. When the water starts to boil, add the Palmini Pasta and cook 3-4 minutes.
6. When the sausage is nicely browned, put it on top of the arugula in the bowl.
7. Add the garlic to the pan where you cooked the sausage and saute about 30 seconds; then add 3/4 cup of chicken broth and lemon juice and cook about 2 minutes.
8. When the Palmini Pasta has cooked 3-4 minutes, drain the pasta well and put it over the sausage in the bowl.
9. Then let it sit for 2 minutes to wilt the arugula.
10. Add the broth-lemon-garlic mixture from the pan to the bowl.
11. Toss the mixture together, until the arugula is partly wilted and all ingredients are well-combined.)
12. Serve hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

For Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti or Whole Wheat Spaghetti:

1. In nonstick frying pan, heat olive oil, then squeeze sausage out of casing into pan and brown well, breaking up into small pieces as it cooks.
2. While sausage is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
3. Add spaghetti and according to the time on the package, or until barely done and still *al dente* (with a little bite to it.)
4. Put arugula into large metal, glass or crockery bowl.
5. When sausage is well browned, drain if there is very much fat, then pour sausage over arugula.
6. Put frying pan back on stove, turn heat to very low, add garlic and saute about 30 seconds.
7. Add 1/2 cup pasta cooking water (or chicken broth) and lemon juice and heat 2 minutes.
8. When spaghetti seems done, scoop out another 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water in case you need it, then drain pasta well and put in the bowl with arugula and sausage.
9. Let sit 2 minutes to wilt arugula.
10. Then add water/lemon juice/pasta water mixture from frying pan and toss all ingredients together.
11. If it seems dry, add a bit more of the reserved pasta cooking water.
12. Serve hot, with Parmesan cheese over top.

Notes

I used to use my favorite turkey Hot Italian sausage but lately I haven't been able to find it. I made the version in these photos with Kroger brand pork Italian Sausage and used the package info to help with nutritional information. Use any sausage you prefer.

Nutritional information is for the version with Palmini Low-Carb Pasta and doesn't include Parmesan cheese. Below is the estimated nutritional information if you use Fiber Gourmet or Whole Wheat Spaghetti. (I did my best to calculate this with the package info!)

Nutritional Information for Version with Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti:

Calories 284, Total Fat 27g, Cholesterol 51mg, Sodium 482mg, Total Carbohydrates 45g, Dietary Fiber 24.7g, Sugars 2.6g, Protein 22g

Nutritional Information for Version with Whole Wheat Spaghetti:

Calories 354, Total Fat 27.5g, Cholesterol 51mg, Sodium 382mg, Total Carbohydrates 43g, Dietary Fiber 7.7g, Sugars 2.6g, Protein 23g

Recipe created by Kalyn.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 370Total Fat: 26.2gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 950mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: .7gSugar: 3gProtein: 19g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
When it’s made with Palmini low-carb pasta, this sausage and arugula pasta is great for a low-carb or Keto meal. The version with Fiber Gourmet Light Spaghetti has 20 net carbs, and the version with whole wheat spaghetti has 35 net carbs. You could make either of those lower in carbs by using less pasta and more sausage and greens. If you can find turkey Italian Sausage and use whole wheat spaghetti, this would make a great Phase 2 dinner for the original South Beach Diet.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Leafy Greens to find more recipes with arugula or Pasta to find more pasta recipes! Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
Spaghetti with Sausage and Arugula was first posted in 2013, using whole wheat spaghetti in a version that made only two servings. Here’s the original recipe with spaghetti that made two servings if anyone is still wanting that. The recipe was updated in 2022 to make a recipe with four servings using Palmini Linguini. It was updated again in 2023 to add options for using Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta or Whole Wheat Spaghetti and was last updated with more information in 2024.

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