This whole wheat penne with sausage and spinach recipe has 4 key ingredients: penne, sausage, spinach and broccoli – and you would never know that spinach and broccoli are in this recipe. It’s that good.
You know, quick and easy meals are what I love more than anything. And you might know, what I love even more than that? Ones that are one pot meals. Technically this is a 2 pot meal – only because of the pasta. But now you can make this in only 1 pot!
Everything else can be cooked in one pot, and that makes me and my husband so happy.
Fun story: My husband and I have a great system, which my grandmother likes to remind us that it’s a good thing. If I cook dinner (or breakfast or lunch), he does the dishes. So, when I can only use one pot for a meal and not make a complete mess in the kitchen, he is happy, which makes me happy.It also helps so much to know that you don’t have to use a ton of dishes to cook this meal. It can be done quickly and easily, which is the best thing.
I also love one pot meals because they are usually simple. And this one is one of those amazingly easy, delicious one pot meals.
To make this whole wheat penne with sausage and spinach:
Cook the penne by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne noodles according to the package directions. Once the pasta is cooked al dente, remove from heat and drain. Set aside.
In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Once it’s hot, add the garlic and sausages. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sausages are cooked. Add the canned tomatoes, red wine, and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
Add the broccoli and spinach and keep cooking until the broccoli is tender and the spinach has wilted. Add in the pasta you set aside earlier, and stir to combine. Serve immediately.
What’s your favorite Italian recipe?
Whole Wheat Penne with Sausage and Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 package Italian sausages mild or hot, sliced thin
- olive oil
- 6 cloves large garlic minced
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 lb whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 bunch broccoli florets chopped
- 1 bunch spinach chopped
Instructions
Cook the Penne:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne noodles according to the package directions. Once the pasta is cooked al dente, remove from heat and drain. Set aside.
Cook the Sausage:
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Once it's hot, add the garlic and sausages. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sausages are cooked.
- Add the canned tomatoes, red wine, and tomato paste. Stir to combine. Add the broccoli and spinach and keep cooking until the broccoli is tender and the spinach has wilted. Add in the pasta you set aside earlier, and stir to combine.
Video
Notes
Hi Laura – no, I used regular Italian sausage. So if you use Turkey Italian sausage, I bet the points would be lower. There is spinach in this recipe, but you could definitely use carrots before. Are there any other veggies that he will eat? Maybe mushrooms too?
Your recipe doesn’t state, are your using Turkey Italian sausage? Checking for your WW points base. Also trying to think with the flavor what veggie could be subbed for the broccoli, think carrots? Hubs doesn’t do broccoli or cauliflower, generally if i have them in a recipe i add them separately in my dish.
I actually love whole wheat pasta. I can’t taste much of a difference between it and regular pasta, but I understand that others aren’t like me. I think a veggie pasta would be interesting with this dish too!
I loved this dish. Like, it was fantastic and I will be making it again soon. It’s perfect and just what I wanted (the beach was just what I needed).
Thank you so much Macy! I hope you try it and let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear how you enjoyed it.
I’m iffy about whole-wheat pasta, I really don’t like the texture of it. I’ll go for a veggie past before whole-wheat. However, this does look really good!
Have fun at the beach. I cannot start to tell you how jealous I am of you!
My Italian soul is LOVING this….YUM! I will have to try this one. Enjoy your time away at the beach!
This looks and sounds incredible! I can’t wait to make it. have so much fun at the beach!