📋Lentil and Sausage Stew Recipe (with Spinach)

Lentil and sausage stew in blue bowl on white surface with light blue pot of stew in the background

5 from 4 votes

📋Lentil and Sausage Stew Recipe (with Spinach)

Lentil and Sausage Stew (with spinach) is a healthy and hearty meal. Made with canned tomatoes and canned lentils, it's easy and will take you 30 minutes to put together.

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American, Canadian, North American

Keyword lentil, sausage, spinach

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 263kcal

Author Terri Gilson

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

US Customary - Metric

Get Recipe Ingredients

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

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.

🔢WW POINTS

This recipe 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.

Nutrition