One Pot Dinner Recipes Easy And Cheap
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Diet: Standard
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced into rounds
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or whole milk for a lighter version)
- 8 oz dried pasta (rotini, penne, or bowties work best)
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional for heat)
Instructions
- Place a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sliced sausage and diced onions. Sauté for about 5 to 7 minutes until the onions are translucent and the sausage has developed a nice brown crust. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for just 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Pour the chicken broth, heavy cream, and dried pasta into the pot. Stir everything together to ensure the pasta is mostly submerged. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom. The pasta is done when it is tender and most of the liquid has thickened into a sauce.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese and the fresh baby spinach. The residual heat from the pasta will melt the cheese and wilt the spinach in about 1 minute. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like a little kick. Serve immediately while the sauce is creamy and hot.