Description
A quick and hearty one-pot skillet featuring creamy white beans, savory Italian sausage, and fresh spinach in a luscious sauce, perfect for cozy dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, sliced or crumbled (sweet, mild, or spicy)
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans (cannellini or great northern), drained and rinsed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow or white onion, finely chopped
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 1 cup chicken broth (240 ml), low-sodium recommended
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (25 g)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme blend)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice or crumble the sausage into bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic and finely chop the onion. Rinse and drain the white beans thoroughly. Rinse the spinach and set aside. (About 10 minutes)
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the fat in the skillet.
- Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring frequently. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Avoid burning the garlic.
- Stir in the drained white beans, then pour in 1 cup chicken broth. Gently mash a few beans against the pan to thicken the sauce slightly. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 5 minutes to reduce and blend flavors.
- Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Pour in ½ cup heavy cream and stir gently to combine. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the sausage and beans.
- Stir in 3 cups fresh spinach and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cook for about 2 minutes until spinach wilts. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.
- Give a gentle stir, remove from heat, and cover the skillet. Let sit for 2 minutes to meld flavors before serving.
Notes
[‘Brown the sausage well to develop flavor.’, ‘Use fresh garlic for best aroma and taste.’, ‘Gently mash some beans to create natural creaminess.’, ‘Simmer on moderate heat to avoid curdling the cream.’, ‘Add fresh lemon juice at the end to brighten flavors.’, ‘If sauce thickens too much, add a splash of broth or cream before serving.’, ‘For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.’, ‘For vegetarian, replace sausage with smoked tofu or mushrooms and use vegetable broth.’, ‘Avoid overcooking spinach; it should remain bright green and tender.’, ‘Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently with added broth or cream.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Tuscan, Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the skillet (
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Tuscan, white bean, sausage, creamy, one-pot, skillet, easy dinner, Italian sausage, spinach, comfort food