Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach

Finished Slow Cooker Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach Ready to Serve from Black CrockPot

5 from 1 vote

Crock Pot Lentils with Chicken Sausage and Spinach

Bursting with protein and fiber, this easy, hearty, tasty recipe combines wholesome brown or green lentils, savory chicken sausage, diced tomatoes, and fresh spinach.

Prep Time15

Cook Time5 15

Total Time5 30

Course: Entree, Main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crockpot spinach lentils sausage, slow cooker lentils with chicken sausage, slow cooker sausage lentils

Servings:

Author: Martha McKinnon | Simple Nourished Living

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup brown or green lentils rinsed and drained
2 cups chicken or beef broth
12 ounces precooked chicken sausage, sliced into thin rounds (I used spinach & feta flavor)
1 cup peeled and chopped carrots
14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes (I used a can of whole tomatoes that I chopped myself.)
9 ounces fresh baby spinach

Instructions

In a 3-quart to 6-quart slow cooker, add the lentils, broth, sausage, carrots and tomatoes. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-1/2 hours, or on LOW for 5 hours, checking periodically to ensure there is enough liquid to cook the lentils.
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.
Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper as necessary.

Notes

Servings: 6 generous 1 cup servings

WW Points: 3

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5 PointsPlus (Old plan)

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.

Nutrition