Easy Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach
If you’re looking for a hearty and delicious one-pot meal that fits seamlessly into your plan for eating better on WeightWatchers, this Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach recipe is your new best friend!
Bursting with protein and fiber, this savory low calorie, dish combines wholesome brown or green lentils, savory chicken sausage, diced tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Toss everything into your slow cooker and let it work its magic while you go about your day. The result? A mouthwatering, satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy. This recipe is sure to become a beloved staple in your kitchen!
How Many Calories and WeightWatchers Points in this Recipe for CrockPot Lentils with Chicken Sausage & Spinach?
According to my calculations, each serving has 198 calories and 3 Points. To see your WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app, Click here!
Recipe Ingredients
Brown or green lentils – Use green or brown lentils. Red lentils are too fragile for this recipe.
Chicken or beef broth – Either will work as the liquid in this dish. Choose low sodium if desired.
Pre-cooked chicken sausage – I used Spinach and Feta flavor, but any flavor that appeals to you will work. Slice the links into thin rounds.
Carrots – peeled & chopped.
Diced tomatoes – I used whole tomatoes that I chopped myself instead.
Fresh spinach – 9 ounces or so added at the end of cooking for a burst of vibrant color.
How to Make Lentils with Chicken Sausage & Spinach Step by Step
Spinach, lentils, broth, carrots, diced tomatoes, chicken sausage
Step 1: Gather and prep your ingredients. Rinse the lentils. Peel & Chop the carrots. Slice the sausage into thin rounds.
Step 2: In a 3-quart to 6-quart slow cooker, add the lentils, broth, sausage, carrots and tomatoes. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-½ hours, or on LOW for 5 hours, checking periodically to ensure there is enough liquid to cook the lentils.
Step 3: After the initial cooking time, when the lentils are almost soft, stir in the spinach. It’ll look like a lot at first, but the spinach will wilt quickly. Cover again and cook on LOW for 15-30 minutes more.
Recipe Notes, Substitutions & Variations
I used Aidells Spinach and Feta Smoked Chicken Sausage since it’s what I had on hand. But there are so many options that would be delicious: roasted garlic, roasted pepper & asiago, Italian style, spicy jalapeno, etc.
I didn’t have diced tomatoes so I chopped up a can of whole tomatoes which worked just fine. The key to sustainable cooking is making do with what you have.
Next time I plan to stir in a little crumbled feta cheese when I add the spinach.
I felt like the broth and the seasoning from the sausage was enough to flavor this dish. But everyone is different. Be sure to season to taste with salt, black pepper and whatever other seasonings call to you.
Ideas for adding a little pizzaz to the final dish:
Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or cilantro on top for a burst of fresh flavor and color.
Parmesan Cheese: Add a small amount of grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of savory richness.
Red Pepper Flakes: For a bit of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes on each serving.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this simple lentil dish with a piece of crusty bread and a tangy green salad on the side. A hunk of warm from the oven cornbread would also work well.
Stuffed Peppers Photo by rivage on Unsplash
Ways to Use Leftovers
I think this dish is also excellent for lunch the next day once the mixture has the opportunity to thicken up. You can also use the leftovers to create a whole new meal. Here are some ideas:
Stuffed Bell Peppers:
Ingredients: Bell peppers, shredded cheese.
Directions: Cut the tops off bell peppers and remove the seeds. Fill each pepper with the leftover lentil mixture, top with shredded cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.
Lentil and Sausage Soup:
Ingredients: Vegetable or chicken broth, additional vegetables (optional).
Directions: Add the leftovers to a pot with extra broth to reach your desired soup consistency. You can also add more chopped vegetables like celery, zucchini, or bell peppers. Simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Lentil and Sausage Wraps:
Ingredients: Whole wheat tortillas, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, Greek yogurt.
Directions: Warm the leftovers and spoon them onto whole wheat tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado slices, and a dollop of Greek yogurt. Roll up and enjoy as a wrap.
Lentil and Sausage Breakfast Skillet:
Ingredients: Eggs, diced onions, bell peppers, shredded cheese.
Directions: Sauté diced onions and bell peppers in a skillet. Add the leftovers and heat through. Create small wells in the mixture and crack an egg into each well. Cover and cook until the eggs are set. Sprinkle with shredded cheese before serving.
Lentil and Sausage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes:
Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt.
Directions: Bake or microwave sweet potatoes until tender. Slice them open and fluff the insides with a fork. Drizzle with a little olive oil and salt, then top with the heated leftovers.
Lentil and Sausage Tacos:
Ingredients: Cooked rice or quinoa, shredded cheese, breadcrumbs.
Directions: Mix the leftovers with cooked rice or quinoa. Transfer to a baking dish, top with shredded cheese and breadcrumbs, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and crispy.
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Easy Healthy Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
WW Points: 3
Click here to see your WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
I used Aidells Spinach and Feta Smoked Chicken Sausage since it’s what I had on hand. But there are so many options that would be delicious: roasted garlic, roasted pepper & asiago, Italian style, spicy jalapeno, etc.
I didn’t have diced tomatoes so I chopped up a can of whole tomatoes which worked just fine. The key to sustainable cooking is making due with what you have.
Next time I plan to stir in a little crumbled feta cheese when I add the spinach.
I felt like the broth and the seasoning from the sausage was enough to flavor this dish. But everyone is different. Be sure to season to taste with salt, black pepper and whatever other seasonings call to you.
Ideas for adding a little pizzaz to the final dish:
Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or cilantro on top for a burst of fresh flavor and color.
Parmesan Cheese: Add a small amount of grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of savory richness.
Red Pepper Flakes: For a bit of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes on each serving.
Nutrition
Recipe source: A Year of Slow Cooking Sausage & Lentil Stew
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan’s ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
More Low Calorie Lentil Recipes You’ll Love
Skillet Lentils, Sausage & Kale
Mom’s Simple Hearty Lentil Sausage Stew
Lentil Mushroom & Kale Burritos
Slow Cooker Lentil Stew with Sausage
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she’s not experimenting in the kitchen, you’re likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
The post Easy Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach appeared first on Simple Nourished Living.
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