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One Pot pasta and lentil

One-Pot Italian Sausage and Lentil Pasta

This One-Pot Italian Sausage + Lentil Pasta is an easy weeknight dinner made with sausage, lentils, marinara, and pasta cooked together in one skillet. It's hearty, family-friendly, budget-conscious, and creates fewer dishes to wash later. A cozy comfort-food dinner with extra staying power and leftovers that taste just as good the next day.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 –16 oz pasta
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 –1½ cups cooked lentils
  • 24 oz marinara sauce (1 jar)
  • 3½ cups chicken broth or water plus more if needed
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • Pinch red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 handfuls spinach optional
  • Parmesan cheese for topping
Optional creamy version
  • ½ - 1 cup –1 cup cottage cheese with chives OR or splash of milk plus parmesan

Method
 

  1. Brown sausage if needed and drain excess grease if desired.
  2. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in marinara, broth, lentils, Italian seasoning, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Add dry pasta directly into the skillet and stir.
  5. Bring to a gentle boil.
  6. Stir every few minutes so pasta doesn't stick.
  7. Cook 10–14 minutes until pasta is tender and sauce thickens.
  8. If mixture gets too dry, add another ½ cup broth.
  9. Stir spinach into hot pasta and allow it to wilt.
  10. Top with parmesan and serve.

Notes

For a creamy version:
Mix cottage cheese with chives and a spoonful of hot pasta liquid in a bowl before stirring back into the pasta. Finish with parmesan.