Description
Need dinner in a hurry but still want something that tastes like a weekend treat? This one-pan wonder stars juicy ground Italian chicken sausage sizzled with sweet peppers, baby spinach, and tangy tomatoes. Fifteen minutes on the stove, a sprinkle of mozzarella, and you’ve got a colorful, protein-packed meal that feels indulgent yet stays light.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Mixture
- 1 lb (450 g) ground Italian chicken sausage
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bell peppers (any color), diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach, loosely packed
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red-pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touch
- ½ cup shredded part-skim mozzarella (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Heat It Up
- Place a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat.
Brown the Sausage
- Crumble in ground chicken sausage. Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned.
Add the Veggies
- Stir in diced onion and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes.
- Toss in bell peppers and cherry tomatoes; cook another 3 minutes until peppers begin to soften.
Season & Wilt
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and a pinch each of salt and black pepper.
- Fold in baby spinach; cook 1–2 minutes until wilted.
Cheesy Finish
- If using, scatter mozzarella over the skillet. Cover for 1 minute to melt.
Serve
- Garnish with fresh basil, spoon into bowls, and enjoy while hot!
Notes
- Veggie Swap: Zucchini or mushrooms work great in place of bell peppers.
- Extra Heat: Add a dash of hot paprika with the crushed red pepper.
- Make-Ahead: Cook sausage mixture, cool, and refrigerate up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet.
- Low-Carb Tip: Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~1¼ cups
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Protein: 25 g
Keywords: ground Italian chicken sausage, one-pan dinner, low-carb skillet, gluten-free recipe, 30-minute meal, healthy Italian sausage, quick weeknight dinner