Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese

A leaner alternative to the classic Bolognese, this Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese features chicken sausage and heart-healthy lentils.

This post first appeared September 8, 2013 as part of the Simple Sundays series. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!

Transition

There’s always a period of transition when we shift from a summer of travel and leisure to the more rigid autumn. Now dictated by school bells and new after-school activity schedules. As the children get older, their activities creep later into the day, time that I usually spend cooking dinner.

To be perfectly honest, I have been struggling a little in the kitchen. These first few weeks are all about finding our new normal, and understanding how best to juggle my work with what is feasible with our adjusted family calendar. Whether or not you have little ones, I’m sure you comprehend those moments when you need to figure out a new way to make things work.

Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese

I’m sure you understand when it’s easiest to reach into the pantry for a box of pasta and set to work on a meal you know the whole family will love. Not only is a good sauce something you can make in advance and reheat if necessary, but it’s something you can easily transform from the boring old to something new. This Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese is a welcome riff on a classic favorite.

But for me, this isn’t just a simple riff. I love that the flavors from the chicken sausage bring so much flavor to the sauce. Fussing with seasoning isn’t necessary. The best part, though, are the healthy lentils. They are small enough that fussy eaters don’t even detect a difference, and they bring a lean and healthy alternative to the standard meat sauce. With a Caesar salad on the side, this is a dinner my family is happy to come home to. It’s one that guarantees a lot of smiles at the dinner table, even after a busy day.

How about you? What meals do you turn to for these busy days?

More Pasta Recipes

25 Simple Pasta Recipes
Vegetarian Pasta Puttanesca
Avocado Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage
Swiss Chard Walnut Pesto Pasta
Warm Eggplant & Mushroom Pasta Salad

Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese

A leaner alternative to the classic Bolognese, this Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese features chicken sausage and heart healthy lentils.

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Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 880kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 onion finely chopped
• ▢ 3 stalks celery diced
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 lb chicken sausage casing removed
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 1/2 cup beef stock
• ▢ 28 oz strained tomatoes (aka passata or tomato purée)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ▢ 2 cups cooked lentils
• ▢ 1 lb spaghetti
• ▢ Kosher salt to taste
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ▢ Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley for serving

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• In a large, deep-sided sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Cook the onion, garlic, and celery, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until the onion is translucent.
• Crumble in the chicken sausage that was removed from the casing and use a fork or wooden spoon to break down the meat.
• Add the bay leaf and stir in the beef stock, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits.
• Let it cook for a few minutes, letting the stock reduce a bit. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, bring to a bubble, and let it simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Add the cooked lentils and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with salt and add a drizzle of olive oil and pasta.
• Cook according to the package directions, until the pasta is al dente. Drain the spaghetti and dress with the sauce.
• Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan and a sprinkling of freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

Note: If you can’t find strained tomatoes or canned tomato purée, substitute with canned chopped tomatoes (give it a quick blitz in the blender to make it a smoother texture).

Nutrition

Calories: 880kcal | Carbohydrates: 129g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 1528mg | Potassium: 1374mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1228IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 9mg

Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante