Whole30 Tuscan Sausage Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal! It's a one pot meal too, so nice and easy on cleanup. It's especially perfect for fall or winter since it's so creamy and comforting.
Big fan of shrimp? Try Creamy Tuscan Shrimp here instead!
Ingredients needed for Whole30 Tuscan Sausage Skillet
- Olive Oil
- Italian Sausage
- Onion
- Garlic
- Arrowroot Powder
- Milk
- Broth
- Mustard
- Lemon Juice
- Spinach
- Sun Dried Tomatoes
- Salt
- Parmesan Cheese (optional)
What Makes this Tuscan Sausage Whole30 Compatible?
If you're unsure what the Whole30 program is, you'll want to check out this post.
Whole30 is a 30 day plan where you eliminate all grains, gluten, dairy, legumes, sugar, and alcohol, then carefully and methodically reintroduce the first four items to see how your body reacts (or doesn't).
You obviously don't have to be doing a Whole30 to eat this meal (trust me, I eat it far more often!), but it does check all the boxes if you are!
You'll be using a nut milk in place of dairy milk, a grain free flour instead of wheat flour, and no cheese is necessary!
So even if you're just gluten free or dairy free, it's the perfect meal for you!
Tips and Tricks for Whole30 Creamy Tuscan Sausage
How to find Whole30 compatible Sausage
If you are doing a Whole30, it can be difficult to find sugar free sausage! I like the brand Lamberti's. They are based in New Haven, CT and have a clean ingredient list. I also like that many of their sausages do not include vinegar, since I avoid yeast.
If you're local to CT, it's worth a shot to check out the store brand Italian Sausage by Shoprite. At my local Shoprite, all their Italian sausage is sugar free. It's been a lifesaver on all my Whole30's!
Also check out the official page of Whole30 approved partners, and you can safely go from there!
What milks can be used?
My personal favorite milk is raw cow's milk, for all the nutrients and benefits you can receive.
Fun fact, some people who are lactose intolerant can actually tolerate raw cows milk! This is because it still has enzymes that help digest and break down the milk. The enzymes are destroyed in the pasteurization and homogenization processes.
If you want to keep in line with the Whole30 or Paleo diets however, I recommend almond milk. It has a neutral taste and in my opinion is a nut milk most similar in taste to dairy milk.
You can also use coconut milk too, and I recommend the full fat version. To decrease the coconutty taste, decrease the milk and increase the broth a bit.
What thickeners can be used?
I used arrowroot in the recipe as it's Whole30 and Paleo, and thickens it nicely!
For substitutes, you can try tapioca flour. It's very similar, but may come out a bit "gummy". However, in a pinch it'll do!
Cassava flour will also work here too!
If you're just gluten free and not Whole30 or Paleo, you can also do a Gluten Free All Purpose Flour.
How to Make Creamy Tuscan Sausage
Start by chopping your raw sausage. If you have the links, cut them into bite size pieces. If you have sausage patties, you can just break them up as you cook.
Cook the sausage over medium heat. If you'd like them extra crispy, turn up the heat at the end until you get them just how you like. Set them aside.
Cook the onion and then the garlic in the sausage oil, adding more oil if needed.
Next we're going to make it nice and creamy! Push the onion and garlic to one side, letting the oil go to the opposite side.
Add in the flour little by little, quickly mixing as you go. When all the flour has been added, mix the onion and garlic in to evenly coat.
Very slowly, add the milk, again quickly mixing as you go. Let it start to boil and thicken before each addition.
Next follow the same process with the broth, adding little by little and letting it thicken between each addition.
Next add in the lemon juice and mustard and mix.
Mix in the spinach, sun dried mustard, and the cooked sausage. Allow the spinach to wilt and everything to heat evenly.
Salt to taste, then enjoy!
What to serve with One Pan Tuscan Sausage
It's traditionally served over pasta for a creamy tuscan sausage pasta dish that is to die for! Get some Gluten Free pasta and have at it!
If you're doing Whole30 however, you have some options: sweet potato noodle are my favorite! So delicious. You can also make zoodles, aka zucchini noodles!
I've also served this over mashed potatoes, and the sauce from the dish is so delicious with them.
Click here if you need a Whole30 mashed potato recipe.
What makes this Paleo Tuscan Sausage so Good?
This meal is super easy on cleanup since everything cooks in the same pot! Doesn't get much easier than that.
It also has a delicious savory flavor! A perfect mix of Italian sausage, sundried tomatoes, onion, and garlic!
It's also a healthy meal too! You have spinach which is always a healthy choice. Protein from the sausage and the broth. And healthy fat from the olive oil!
If you pair it over veggie noodles, it's even more nutritious, and of course filling. A win win!
Creamy Tuscan Sausage Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. Oil
- 1 lb. Italian Sausage sliced into bite sized pieces if in casings
- 1 Onion chopped
- 4-5 cloves Garlic chopped
- 2.5 teaspoon Arrowroot
- 1 Cup Broth
- ¾ Cup Almond Milk dairy milk is fine if not Whole30
- 1 Cup Whole sun dried tomatoes chopped after measuring. If pre-chopped, then ¾ cup.
- 1 Tbsp. Mustard
- 1 tsp. Lemon Juice
- 1 bunch Spinach or ½ lb. frozen
- ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese (omit if paleo or Whole30)
- salt optional
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat. When hot, add the sausage. Cook 10-12 minutes or until no longer pink inside. Remove from pan and set aside, leaving the oil in the pan.
- Add onion to the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add garlic and cook until both are softened.
- Push the garlic and onions aside in the pan. Gradually whisk the arrowroot into the oil in the pan. Stir the onion and garlic into the mixture to coat everything.
- Slowly whisk the milk into the pan, scraping up the brown bits as you go. Let it boil and thicken in between adding more milk.
- Slowly whisk in the broth, again letting it thicken in between additions. Whisk in the mustard and lemon juice.
- Add in the sausages, spinach, and sun dried tomatoes. When spinach has wilted and everything has heated through, let it simmer a few minutes to thicken if needed. If using the parmesan cheese, add it in and stir.
- Serve and enjoy!
More Whole30 Recipes
Here is just a sampling of other healthy and Whole30 recipes on my site. If you're looking for something else to be Whole30 transformed, let me know in the comments below!
Did you try this recipe? Let me know how it came out! And let me know how you served it.
Feel free to tag me on Instagram with a photo of your meal, @thecleanhappylife!
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