Smart Recipe Kitchen

2026-03-13

Serves: 4 · Total time: ~35 minutes · Why it works: beans thicken naturally, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach add depth, and sausage gives flavor without long simmering.

Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian chicken sausage, sliced - 1 tbsp olive oil - 1 small onion, diced - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), chopped - 2 cans (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained - 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth - 1/2 cup half-and-half - 3 cups baby spinach - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional) - Salt, black pepper, juice of 1/2 lemon

Method
1) Brown sausage in oil over medium-high, 5–6 minutes; remove.
2) Sauté onion 3 minutes; add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes for 30 seconds.
3) Add beans, broth, red pepper flakes, pinch of salt/pepper. Simmer 8 minutes.
4) Return sausage; stir in half-and-half and spinach until wilted. Add Parmesan; simmer 2 minutes to thicken.
5) Finish with lemon juice; adjust seasoning. Serve with crusty bread.