Sausage & Broccoli Orecchiette
pasta
A delicious weeknight version of sausage & broccoli rabe orecchiette. A little more simple but just ask uh flavor!
This Weeknight Sausage & Broccoli Orecchiette is exactly the kind of pasta I want when I’m craving something cozy and comforting but don’t want to spend all night making dinner. Italian sausage, garlicky broccoli, and little orecchiette cups come together in a simple, savory sauce that clings to every bite. It’s hearty without feeling too heavy, and everything comes together quickly enough to actually earn the title of weeknight dinner.
I especially love orecchiette here because those little “ears” catch all the bits of sausage, broccoli, Parmesan, and sauce, so you get a little bit of everything in every bite. A generous shower of Parmesan and a pinch of red pepper flakes at the end give it just enough richness and heat. It’s unfussy, incredibly satisfying, and one of those back-pocket pasta recipes you can make over and over again with ingredients that are easy to keep on hand.
Here are the Ingredients for this Smashed Broccoli Penne:
Produce - Broccoli, Garlic
Seasonings - Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes
Pantry - Orecchiette, Olive Oil
Dairy - Parmesan, Butter
Protein - Sweet Italian Sausage
Sausage & Broccoli Orecchiette
An amazingly delicious version of sausage & broccoli rabe orecchiette but simple enough to make on a weeknight!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb orrechiette
- 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
- 2 cups broccoli florets, rough chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp butter, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cup pasta water, divided in half
Instructions
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan and brown your sausage on both sides. Once both sides are browned, crumble the sausage into small pieces. Once fully cooked removed from the pan.
- Cook your orecchiette in salted water
- Add in 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of butter to your pan. Then add in the broccoli and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add in the garlic and sauté for another couple minutes.
- Add the sausage back in with the broccoli, as well as 1/2 of the salted pasta water and 1 tbsp of butter. Season with salt and pepper, stir and cook for another couple minutes.
- Add in your cooked pasta, the rest of the pasta water, 2 tbsp butter and the Parmesan. Mix and cook for another minute until the pasta is all coated and saucy.
- Serve with more Parmesan and enjoy!
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