Italian Sausage and Broccolini Pasta
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Italian Sausage and Broccolini Pasta is one of our favorite easy pasta dishes! In about 15 minutes, you’ll have a bowl of delicious pasta lightly coated with Parmesan cheese and every bite will have juicy chunks of Italian Sausage and Broccolini!
What You Will ❤️ About Sausage & Broccolini Pasta
- Flavor instead of Sauce! That’s right – this pasta doesn’t really have a “sauce” but with garlic, sausage, lemon and Parmesan – it’s got SO MUCH FLAVOR!
- 15 Minutes! This dinner is ready from start to finish in 15 minutes – it’s quick and easy!
- Broccolini! I have to tell you how much I love brocccolini. It’s long stalks are so tender – don’t trash them like you to broccoli stems!
Ingredients for Sausage & Broccolini Pasta
Simple ingredients come together for a delicious pasta dish. Every bite is a little burst of flavor and nothing feels heavy. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Orecchiette Pasta – this is the pasta that is commonly known as ear-shaped.
- Italian Sausage – I used sweet Italian sausage but you could use Mild or Spicy – whatever you like!
- Broccolini – also known as Baby Broccoli – they’re longer and more tender than regular broccoli florets (you can also make air fryer broccolini as a side – so good!)
- Parmesan Cheese – this is not a saucy dish – pasta water and a little Parmesan coat every bite. You can also use Romano cheese for a similar taste.
- Lemon – You’ll use the zest & lemon juice from one lemon in this recipe
- SEASONINGS: Garlic, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Salt & Black Pepper
Recipe Variations
There are some swaps you can make for your family’s tastes. I know mushrooms are in this dish’s future for me! How about you?
- Short Pasta – You could also use bowtie (farfalle) pasta, fusilli (corkscrew), rigatoni or any other short pasta.
- More Vegetables – add in your other favorite vegetables if you like – mushrooms, zucchini and onions would all be tasty!
- Protein – swap the sausage for diced chicken or even halved meatballs!
How to make Italian Sausage & Broccolini Pasta
I love how easy this dish is to make – boil the pasta, saute the sausage & broccolini – put it all together! That’s literally it! Ok – there’s a little more – but not much. You’ll love it!
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tbsp of salt. Once the water is boiling, add the orecchiette and cook to al dente (take 2 minutes off of the package instructions – it will finish cooking later). Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until most of the pink is gone, about 5-7 minutes. Because we’re using sausage – there’s no need for olive oil.
- Add the minced cloves garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the broccolini and 1/4 cup pasta water. Reduce medium heat. Stir and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes. (If you forgot the pasta water – you can sub with chicken broth or a splash of white wine.)
- Reduce the heat to medium low. To the pan, add cooked pasta, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper and toss.
- Add 1/4 cup pasta water and continue to cook, stirring, until glossy, adding more pasta water if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
- Sprinkle with more Parmesan before serving.
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Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can freeze up to three months. Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Broccoli has thick stems and a large, flowered head. Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. Broccolini has long, thinner and more tender stalks and smaller florets.
It’s more leafy and bitter…
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Italian Sausage and Broccolini Pasta
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tbsp of salt. Once the water is boiling, add the orecchiette and cook to al dente (take 2 minutes off of the package instructions – it will finish cooking later). Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.8 oz orecchiette pasta
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until most of the pink is gone, about 5-7 minutes. Because we’re using sausage – there’s no need for olive oil.1 lb Italian sausage
- Add the minced cloves garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the broccolini and 1/4 cup pasta water. Reduce medium heat. Stir and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes. (If you forgot the pasta water – you can sub with chicken broth or a splash of white wine.)2 cloves garlic, 10 oz broccolini
- Reduce the heat to medium low. To the pan, add cooked pasta, Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper and toss.1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan, Zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1/8 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
- Add 1/4 cup pasta water and continue to cook, stirring, until glossy, adding more pasta water if needed. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
- Sprinkle with more Parmesan before serving.
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