The 15-Minute Dinner I’ve Made Hundreds of Times

It never fails to satisfy.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published November 03, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

Simply Recipes

Why Make This

  • Instead of cooking the ravioli in a separate pan, you cook it right in the skillet with the sausage and spinach, saving dishes and time.
  • Italian sausage adds plenty of flavor on its own, so you don't need to raid your spice drawer.
  • Use your favorite ravioli or swap the pork sausage for chicken sausage or plant-based meat to make this recipe your own.

There’s a common misconception that because I went to culinary school and cook for a living, I must prepare elaborate meals every night—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. When it comes to making dinner, I’m a minimalist: minimal ingredients, minimal prep, and minimal cleanup. 

I love a one-pot or one-pan meal, and if I can make it quickly, even better. This recipe is the perfect example of minimalism, using just five ingredients, one pan, 15 minutes start to finish. The combination of cheesy ravioli, tender spinach, and meaty sausage keeps me coming back for more.

The Trick to Making This Dinner Fast

I attribute my minimalist cooking philosophy to my days as a meal kit recipe developer, where I was tasked with creating quick, flavorful dinners with minimal cleanup. 

These recipes challenged me to think outside the box and come up with smart, time-saving hacks, which is where I first used this method. Instead of waiting for a large pot of water to boil, the ravioli steams in the skillet with a small amount of water, similar to how you would cook a potsticker, reducing the time and cooking vessels needed.

Another way to save time is by using sausage because it’s a great way to add flavor using one simple ingredient. Speaking of time savers, baby spinach is the perfect tender green to quickly wilt in the skillet and help get some veggies into your dinner—no need to make a side!

One-Pan Ravioli in a bowl with a fork

Simply Recipes

Quick Tips for Making My One-Pan Ravioli

If you’re not a fan of pork sausage, you can swap in fresh Italian chicken sausage instead. Just make sure to remove the sausage casing before adding it to the skillet.

I’m a huge fan of pre-grated parmesan for convenience, but with a caveat: it’s best to avoid any pre-grated parmesan with added preservatives and additives because it won’t melt as smoothly and can cause clumping. I prefer store-grated parmesan because it’s ground up in-store using a hunk of aged parm without the additives.

I chose straightforward cheese-filled ravioli for this recipe, but the beauty is that it’s versatile and customizable. If you want to switch up the flavor of the ravioli, go ahead. Both fresh and frozen will work, so choose whatever brand or type you normally buy. Or swap for tortellini.

close up of One-Pan Ravioli in a pan with a large spoon

Simply Recipes

More Ways To Turn Ravioli Into Dinner

One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 13 mins
Total Time 18 mins
Servings 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

  • 18 ounces fresh or frozen cheese ravioli

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

  • 1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup (1 3/4 ounces) grated parmesan cheese

Method

  1. Cook the sausage:

    Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up as you go, until browned, about 5 minutes.

  2. Cook the ravioli:

    Stir in the ravioli, water, and salt. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook until the ravioli are al dente, about 4 minutes. Add the spinach and a pinch each of salt and pepper, cover, and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.

  3. Make the sauce:

    Add the cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced slightly and is starting to lightly coat the ravioli, about 2 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat, stir in half of the parmesan, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve the ravioli topped with the remaining parmesan and a few grinds of pepper.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
578 Calories
37g Fat
31g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 578
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 47%
Saturated Fat 18g 88%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 1221mg 53%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 12mg 61%
Calcium 346mg 27%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 535mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.