The ultimate 20-minute weeknight dinner, this hearty sausage and kale pasta with white beans is made with whole grain pasta, sweet Italian sausage, kale, and creamy white beans.
Kids can be picky eaters – one day they love a food, the next day they hate it. But can you guess what food my kids have always eaten? PASTA! I’m sure they’re not alone. Heck – who doesn’t love pasta? While I’ve been making Sausage and Kale Pasta for decades, it’s only been in recent years that I started adding white beans. Inspired by my Italian brother-in-law, white beans add a delicious creamy texture to the dish along with a hefty boost of protein and fiber. Not only are beans a great way to stretch your food budget, but they are kid-friendly (at least in my house!) and a huge source of other vitamins and nutrients
Ingredients
- Pasta: I’d recommend a whole wheat, shorter pasta, like a penne or rotini.
- Sausage: I usually use a turkey sausage for a lower calorie, lower fat content while still high in protein. I like to make it with mild or spicy sausage, but you could use sweet as well!
- Garlic: Nutty, pungent, and aromatic flavor for the pasta.
- Kale: Cooked kale doesn’t get soggy, but gives you all the vitamins and nutrients while cooking out the bitter flavor as well!
- White beans: Great northern beans or cannellini beans both would work great for this dish, and they add a great nutty taste and chewy texture.
- Olive oil: A heart healthy oil with a mild flavor to add to the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: A salty, nutty, hard cheese that contributes to the sauce of the dish.
How to Make Sausage and Kale Pasta with White bEans
You’ll start your Sausage and Kale Pasta with White Beans by bringing water to a boil and cooking your pasta according to package instructions. While pasta is cooking, brown your sausage over medium-high heat in a large skillet. When pasta is done cooking, drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy water.
When sausage is done cooking, add the minced garlic and the kale.
Season with salt and pepper, and add the reserved pasta water. Stir and cover with a lid to briefly wilt the kale.
Then add the strained pasta and the drained and rinsed white beans. Stir together along with the olive oil and parmesan cheese.
Serve garnished with additional cheese and some red pepper flakes (if you like a kick of heat), and enjoy your Sausage and Kale Pasta with White Beans!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are better cannellini beans or great northern beans?
Is pasta with beans healthy?
How do you store leftover pasta with beans?
More Pasta Recipes
- Sausage Pesto Pasta with Peas and Caramelized Onions
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Salad
- Shrimp and Broccoli Penne
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If you need a quick, balanced meal for your family, my Sausage and Kale Pasta with White Beans is exactly what you’re looking for.
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Sausage, Kale and White Bean Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces whole wheat penne (or any short cut pasta)
- 4 links Italian turkey sausage (sweet or spicy)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 cups kale (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup white beans (drained and rinsed)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, reserving 1 cup of the starching cooking water.
- While the pasta is cooking, head a deep skillet over medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Remove sausage from casings and add to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break the sausage down into bite-sized pieces and cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add garlic to the sausage and heat for 30 seconds to release flavor. Stir in kale to the pot along with 1/2 cup of the starching cooking liquid reserved from the pasta. Cover pan with a lid to quickly wilt the kale.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, white beans, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
Last Step:
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