5 ingredients and just a handful of minutes and this dinner is on the table! Swap in whatever veggies you have on hand and feel free to omit the sausage if it’s not your thing!
If you haven’t figured out what you’re having for dinner tonight, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.
And the best part is that this whole dish literally takes 15 minutes from start to finish while providing you whole grains, fiber, vegetables, protein and healthy fat.
Not too shabby for 15 minutes – especially at the end of a long day.
Don’t get me wrong, compared to most people, I love being in the kitchen. It’s one of those things that helps me to relax a little. I actually look forward to cooking most of my meals.
But every once in a while after an exhausting day, it’s nice to know meals like this exist out there. Still healthy, but not quite as laborious as some.
And any way you slice it, it’s a better option (both nutritionally and monetarily) than running across the street to get take out (though there is certainly a time and a place for nights like that too!).
There are little shortcuts (like using store-bought pesto in lieu of homemade) that make this meal simpler to pull together. I know, I know – some of you are thinking ‘STORE-BOUGHT PESTO?!?” I’m sure it’s some sort of food blog sacrilege. But again, when it’s between greasy french fries and a burger on a flimsy white bun for dinner or this using store-bought pesto to make things a little easier, I gotta go with the store-bought (or I need to plan ahead on Sunday night and make a batch to have on hand…)
I have to admit I prefer home-cooked food the majority of the time. I love going out to eat, but when I do it, I don’t want it to be out of desperation, I want it to be this really great little place that I’ve been thinking about and internet stalking for the past month.
So this is my preferred kind of “desperation” meal. Try it next time you’ve had a long day. I promise 8 times out of 10, you’ll opt for this over the drive-through saving money and adding nutrition. A win win.
5 ingredient whole wheat pesto spaghetti with sautéed vegetables and chicken sausage
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: dinner
Description
5 ingredients and just a handful of minutes and this dinner is on the table! Swap in whatever veggies you have on hand and feel free to omit the sausage if it’s not your thing!
Ingredients
- 1 box of whole wheat spaghetti
- 1 cup store-bought pesto (or make your own!)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- Pack of 4 Italian chicken sausages (I like Aidells), sliced into rounds
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- cook spaghetti according to box instructions
- meanwhile, in a non-stick pan coated with cooking spray, sautée cherry tomatoes over medium-low heat until just soft (about 6 minutes) then add spinach sautéing until fully wilted
- add pre-cooked, sliced chicken sausage to pan cooking about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side or until just browned then set aside
- drain the pasta after it has cooked and add pesto mixing well to combine
- top with sautéed cherry tomatoes, spinach and chicken sausage
- serve warm
Keywords: dinner, chicken sausage, pasta, easy meal
I love easy recipes! I don’t eat meat but Trader Joe’s makes a really good soy version that I bet would be delicious in this!
You totally could! Or you could add sauteed mushrooms in lieu of the meat or even chickpeas!
Love this. I make my own coriander pesto, as basil is expensive where I live.
Also, I usually diced some chicken, season with black pepper & paprika, and cook. Then I toss that in. Sometimes if there isn’t enough chicken, I use black olives too.
Very very delicious! My mother keeps asking me to make it for her 🙂
Yum! Sounds amazing!
Does this reheat well for lunch the next day?
Yes, it does really well reheated in my opinion 🙂