This Lentil Sausage Stew (with spinach) is an easy, healthy, and delicious dinner! Made with canned tomatoes and canned lentils, it'll take you 30 minutes to put together.
This hearty stew is a dish my Mom makes and my family loves. It makes a great weeknight meal, is WW friendly (using Italian Turkey Sausage), and it's dairy-free. This recipe was inspired by my Mom's Red Lentil Soup (with spinach) on this site, and pairs well with my Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe.
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If you're looking for more healthy and hearty stews, try my Slow Cooker Chicken Stew and my Old fashioned Slow Cooker Whiskey Beef Stew!
🥘Ingredient Notes
For this Lentil Sausage Stew, you'll need:
- Italian sausages. Italian sausages are a little spicier, so they taste great in this stew! You can use turkey Italian sausages (or chicken sausages) to bring down the calories, fat, and ww points in this recipe.
- Canned tomatoes. You can use whole or diced canned tomatoes. I prefer to use diced.
- Canned lentils. Canned lentils are convenient, making this recipe quick and easy. I use brown lentils because they hold their shape well, while red lentils are often split, cook quickly, and break down to create a creamy texture in dishes like soups and curries.
- Fresh baby spinach. Baby spinach leaves are more tender, sweet, and less bitter than regular spinach, making them ideal for quick cooking. It requires no prep work, cooks quickly, and is just as nutritious as mature spinach, offering vitamins A, C, K, iron, folate, and antioxidants.
*See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Spinach - you could substitute frozen spinach or use kale
- Lentils- you can use dry lentils (cook in advance) if you prefer
- Vegetarian - skip the sausage and get the "Italian" flavor of the sausage from adding a little Italian seasoning, pepper, onion powder, fennel, and paprika
- Spicy - add chili or red pepper flakes
- Gluten-free - use gluten-free sausages
- Garlic - you can use jarred minced garlic or garlic powder (in a pinch) if you don't have fresh garlic
🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Lentil Sausage Stew
- Step 1:Cook sausage over medium-high heat until cooked through (no longer pink). Set aside. Add I chopped onion, 3 diced carrots (I precook carrots for 6 minutes in microwave with a tablespoon of water, then drain), and 2 minced garlic cloves and canned tomatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onion and carrot are soft (a fork can easily go through), about 20 minutes.
- Step 2: Add chopped sausages to the stew, along with canned lentils, drained and rinsed, and 6 cups of baby spinach.
- Step 3: Add the spinach in batches, stir until it gets a bit soft/wilts, then add the next batch and repeat. I do this about 3-4 times.
- Step 4: Heat through and serve.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Brown the sausage well: Don't rush this step-browning adds depth and richness to the stew, giving you more flavor than simply cooking it through.
- Rinse canned lentils: Draining and rinsing the lentils removes excess sodium and any starchy liquid, helping keep the broth clear and the flavors fresh.
- Precook carrots for even texture: Steaming or microwaving carrots briefly before adding them ensures they soften faster and evenly in the stew without becoming mushy.
- Add spinach in batches: Stirring spinach in a little at a time helps it wilt evenly and prevents clumping.
- Balance the flavors: If the stew tastes a little flat, finish with a splash of vinegar (like red wine or apple cider) or a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten it up.
- Make it heartier: For a more filling stew, add a handful of cooked pasta, rice, or barley at the end of cooking.
- Adjust the thickness: If you prefer a thicker stew, mash some of the lentils with a fork or immersion blender before serving.
- Season in layers: Taste after each major addition (tomatoes, sausage, lentils) and adjust seasoning gradually, rather than waiting until the end.
👪 Serving Size
This Lentil Stew recipe makes 4 servings. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. I always double this recipe because my family loves it!
🔢WW Points
This Lentils with Sausage and Spinach is Weight Watchers friendly @ 6 WW points, using turkey Italian sausages. If you use pork Italian sausages, it will be substantially higher in WW points.
🥗 What to Serve with Lentil Sausage Stew
This lentil sausage stew goes well with crusty bread, Bread Machine Onion & Olive Bread, or these Baking Powder Biscuits. But if I'm trying to keep it lighter, I serve it with Everything Bagel Cloud Bread Recipe. Quick Cucumber Kimchi also makes a great side for this Lentil and Sausage Stew!
🌡️Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
❔Recipe FAQs
❔
Yes! Lentil Stew is healthy for you because lentils are healthy for you! They are rich in minerals, low in fat, high in fibre, and are also a great source of protein, folate, and iron. The other ingredients in this stew (spinach, tomatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic) are also full of nutrients.
Absolutely. For a slow cooker, brown the sausage and sauté the onion and garlic first, then add everything (except spinach) and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Stir in the spinach just before serving. For an Instant Pot, use the sauté setting for the sausage, onions, and garlic, then pressure cook everything except spinach for 8 minutes. Stir in the spinach after releasing the pressure.
If you prefer a thicker stew, mash a small portion of the lentils with a fork or blend about a cup of the stew, then stir it back in. Simmering uncovered for a few extra minutes will also help reduce the liquid
Yes! This stew reheats beautifully. You can make it a day in advance, let it cool completely, and refrigerate it. The flavors actually deepen as it sits. Just warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving
🍲More Healthy 30 Minute Dinner Recipes
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📋Lentil and Sausage Stew Recipe (with Spinach)
Ingredients
- 3 Italian sausages * turkey or regular
- 1 onion, chopped large
- 3 carrots, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz can of tomatoes
- 19 oz can of lentils
- 6 cups baby spinach.
Garnish (optional)
- cilantro
Instructions
- Cook 3 Italian sausages over medium heat in a frying pan or Dutch oven. Set aside.3 Italian sausages
- Meanwhile. Add a tablespoon of water to carrots in a microwave safe bowl and precook carrots in the microwave for 6 minutes on high.3 carrots, diced
- Add chopped onion, diced carrot, minced garlic cloves and canned tomatoes to a large pot and bring to boil over high heat.1 onion, chopped, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 28 oz can of tomatoes
- Reduce heat to medium and cook until onion and carrot are soft, about 20 minutes.
- Chop sausages into small pieces. Drain and rinse canned lentils for 30 seconds.19 oz can of lentils
- Add to stew along with canned lentils, drained and rinsed, and baby spinach.6 cups baby spinach.
- Add spinach in 3-4 batches, stirring between.
- Heat through until spinach has wilted and serve.
- Add cilantro, if desired.cilantro
Notes
- Brown the sausage well: Don't rush this step-browning adds depth and richness to the stew, giving you more flavor than simply cooking it through.
- Rinse canned lentils: Draining and rinsing the lentils removes excess sodium and any starchy liquid, helping keep the broth clear and the flavors fresh.
- Precook carrots for even texture: Steaming or microwaving carrots briefly before adding them ensures they soften faster and evenly in the stew without becoming mushy.
- Add spinach in batches: Stirring spinach in a little at a time helps it wilt evenly and prevents clumping.
- Balance the flavors: If the stew tastes a little flat, finish with a splash of vinegar (like red wine or apple cider) or a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten it up.
- Make it heartier: For a more filling stew, add a handful of cooked pasta, rice, or barley at the end of cooking.
- Adjust the thickness: If you prefer a thicker stew, mash some of the lentils with a fork or immersion blender before serving.
- Season in layers: Taste after each major addition (tomatoes, sausage, lentils) and adjust seasoning gradually, rather than waiting until the end.
Terri Gilson
This Lentil and Sausage Stew is a favorite in our house. My mom's recipe has become a family favorite - it's hearty and satisfying, but still WW friendly with the turkey sausage. The best part is how quick it comes together with canned ingredients!
Colleen
This stew is a hearty homey meal that we loved, especially since it only took 30 minutes!
Thanks for sharing!
Terri Gilson
Glad you enjoyed it, Colleen!
nancy
i love adding lentils to my stew to bulk it up. this classic comfy recipe is always loved at our dinner table
Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady
This looks like such a hearty meal! I love lentils, but never know how to prepare them in interesting ways that aren't my same old recipe. Thanks for sharing!