This healthy chicken sausage pasta with spinach, lemon, and green beans is healthy, full of flavor, and filling! Ready in less than 30 minutes.
I don't know about you, but I need food to actually taste good. It's probably obvious by now, but I'm totally not one of those "food is fuel" type people. I believe in eating healthy most of the time, but I need my healthy food to taste better than cardboard.
Sure, you could probably come up with a dish that's healthier than this one, but that probably wouldn't be much fun either. 🙂
If you still want your pasta and a bit of meat but you don't want to spoil your new year's resolution, this dish is for you.
The spinach and green beans are packed with vitamins. The lemon, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic give it a pop of flavor. If you want a bit of spice, add some red pepper flakes. And chicken sausage is a lot healthier than some alternatives out there.
It doesn't take long at all to throw this dish together, and you can feel pretty good doing it.
I hope you enjoy this healthy chicken sausage pasta!

Healthy Chicken Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 16 ounces chicken sausage* cut into bite-size pieces
- 12 ounces fresh green beans cut into bite-sizes pieces
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained (or 1 cup fresh, chopped)
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 dashes Italian seasoning
- Red pepper flakes to taste
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a salted pot of water to a boil and cook pasta (I used spaghetti) according to package directions.
- Warm the oil in a skillet on medium-high heat then add the sausage and brown for 8-10 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the spinach and beans. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt & pepper if desired. Cook for another two minutes.
- Add a couple of tablespoons of the pasta water to the skillet prior to draining the pasta. Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
You may also like my healthy 20 minute turkey bolognese recipe or if you're a fan of chicken sausage, you may like my chicken sausage pasta with roasted tomatoes.
AngelaML says
Hi Natasha - I made this tonight. Ugh - off to a bad start. I miscalculated my dinner schedule and the fresh green beans I bought a week ago had already gone mushy when I went to make this. I don't like sun-dried tomatoes and forgot to buy fresh. The fresh spinach was still good, so ok there. Yes, I needed a win on this! 😉
I wasn't sure there would be enough liquid when I added the spinach to wilt so I did proactively add about a 1/4 cup chicken broth - I did not measure. When the dish was done I also added a little of the pasta water as you suggested.
Overall, it was very nice and healthy and I loved it. Will be looking forward to making it again with the green beans and tomatoes included. Please do more of the healthy style recipes - much appreciated! ❤️
Natasha says
I'm glad you enjoyed this!! It's definitely an older recipe... took me a sec to remember which one this was haha. As always, appreciate your review!! 🙂
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
This looks so yummy! I'm the same way as you, even if I eat healthy, my food has to TASTE good. Adding this to my menu asap!
Natasha says
Thanks, Valentina! I hope you like it. 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I don't know what I like better...your sister's comments or your replies to her comments! Ha!! I love the green beans and spinach. And good idea to sub in the chicken sausage! Nice and healthy!
Natasha says
Thank you, Mary Ann!! Haha yes, we're silly.
Kate @ My Little Larder says
I love finding easy and delicious weeknight meals. This looks so yummy and perfect to whip up during the week when I have two crazy toddlers running around under my feet! They will probably even like it too if I leave out the red pepper flakes. Yum!
Natasha says
Thanks, Kate!! I hope you enjoy it. And yeah, red pepper flakes aren't for everyone. I go easy on them myself, while my husband would use the whole jar if he could. 😛
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Lol, your sister has a funny sense of humor 🙂 This looks and sounds fantastic, Natasha! And your photos are gorgeous, as always!
Natasha says
Thank you!! 😛
Natasha's Sister says
Can you make a vegetarian version? Except I don't like green beans or cooked spinach. Can you make something better?
Natasha says
No.