Butternut Squash Noodles with Spinach & Sausage

My husband and I were recently talking about how our eating habits have changed since we got married 15 years ago.  I was an AWFUL cook.  Like, couldn’t toast toast kind of bad.  For the first 3 years of our marriage, we survived on tater tot casseroles, chicken squares (gag), Hamburger Helper, and pizza.  We eventually moved onto a variety of meals to make up for those lost three years, but only in the recent years have we shifted toward a healthier diet.  I’m not saying we’re perfect eaters 100% of the time.  We still love all the “bad” stuff, too.  But these days we practice the motto, “everything in moderation”.  On nights when we want something that could easily double as a “bad” meal, we opt for this dish.  Savory with a touch of sweetness all wrapped into one.  So you butternut pout (see what I did there?!) because this is just as tasty and sinful as anything I ever cooked those first three years of marriage!

Butternut Squash Noodles with Spinach & Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. butternut squash noodles
  

• 2 tsp. minced garlic

• 1 tsp. + 1/2 TBSP olive oil

• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced

• 1 pkg (2 links) turkey sausage, sliced

• 1 C. baby spinach

• Sea Salt & cracked pepper, to taste

• OPTIONAL TOPPINGS

• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste

• shredded parmesan cheese, to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.  
• Toss salt, pepper, olive oil, and squash in a gallon sized ziplock baggie.  Seal and shake until the noodles are coated. 
• Evenly spread noodles out onto the foil lined baking sheet and cook for 10-12 minutes or until al dente.
• While the squash is cooking, saute the onion, garlic, & sausage in a skillet with 1/2 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat.  Cook until sausage is browned and onions are translucent.
• Remove squash from the oven and transfer to the skillet with the sausage and onion.  Add a cup of baby spinach to the mix and cook over low heat until spinach is wilted. 

Notes

• This dish is excellent with the addition of 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or more if you really like heat). Packs the perfect punch.
• For another layer of flavor, we pair this dish a sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese for serving.