📖 Recipe

Print

Sausage Broccoli Pasta

Sausage, broccoli, pasta topped with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.
Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

Sausage Broccoli Pasta is a classic Italian main dish whipped up in 30 minutes using just 8 main ingredients. Savory ground pork sausage, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and garlic butter sauce combine to make an absolutely irresistible weeknight meal!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. orecchiette pasta
  • 4 cups chopped broccoli florets (1-2 heads)
  • 1 lb. Italian pork sausage (crumbly) 
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 4 large cloves minced garlic 
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Optional: Kosher salt for the pasta water

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, then add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt for flavor. 
  2. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking time, add the chopped broccoli. Drain and return the cooked pasta and broccoli to your stock pot.
  3. Meanwhile, cook the ground Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through, then drain any excess fat and transfer it to your stock pot with the broccoli and pasta.
  4. Add the butter and olive oil to the same skillet that you cooked the sausage in. When the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. 
  5. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the sausage, broccoli, and pasta and mix well, then, mix in the fresh lemon juice.  
  6. Toss the sausage broccoli pasta with the grated parmesan cheese.
  7. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Store leftover sausage broccoli pasta in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • This recipe has a seriously intense garlic flavor! Use more or less based on your personal preference.
  • Add salt to your pasta water after it comes to a boil. The salt will infuse the pasta with flavor while it cooks.   
  • Steam the broccoli separately if desired. Cooking the broccoli on its own will result in larger-sized broccoli florets. Personally, I like to add it directly to the boiling pasta water to minimize the number of dishes, despite the fact that it tends to break into smaller pieces this way. 
  • Chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces, but don't chop it too small. You want the broccoli small enough to eat in a single bite, but not so small that it turns to mush while it's cooking.
  • The nutrition information shown below is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.  It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. 

Nutrition

Find it online: https://sugarandsnappeas.com/pasta-with-sausage-and-broccolini/