Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini
For an easy meal, you can’t go wrong with this Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini. It’s full of flavor and filling, yet still a light pasta dish.
A good bowl of pasta, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese (pecorino romano is also a good option), is a great start to any meal. Let’s face it, the possibilities of what you can add to it are nearly endless. But instead of Italian Meatballs, this easy meal is loaded with flavor from mild sausage (or spicy if you prefer).
Broccoli rabe is pretty expensive right here, but broccolini was on sale so I scooped some up to make this hearty pasta dish. (Of course, you can use regular broccoli if you prefer).
Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini is a nice economical dish and a great alternative to pasta with sauce. Where I live, a pound of sausage is a little bit less expensive than chicken breasts or ground beef.
Let’s get started on making this delicious pasta recipe.
Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of the easy pasta dish recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- pasta
- olive oil
- pork sausage
- fresh garlic
- broccolini
- parmesan cheese
Seasonings: kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions (and answers!) readers often ask about this recipe.
Broccolini is actually a hybrid of regular broccoli and Chinese broccoli and is not ‘baby broccoli’ as some might think.
Broccolini is more slender and has a mild flavor. It’s often more expensive than broccoli because it requires a bit more effort to harvest.
Broccoli rabe, also known as rapini, has a bitter flavor when raw, so it is most often cooked and is popular in Italian cuisine.
Fun fact – Broccoli rabe is more closely related to turnips than broccoli or broccolini!
Make Ahead
This is not the best dish to make ahead. If you’re looking to save some time, I would recommend cooking the sausage ahead of time. Cooked sausage will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
- Instead of penne, try other short pasta shapes like shells, fusilli, rigatoni, gemelli, or orecchiette pasta. Of course, you can also use whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta.
- Substitute regular broccoli florets for the broccolini.
- Add in other veggies such as cherry or grape tomatoes mushrooms, bell peppers, or onions.
- Sprinkle a little bit of lemon pepper seasoning on top.
- Use chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or hot Italian sausage if you prefer. Sliced sweet Italian sausage links also works well.
- Add a little bit of lemon juice or lemon zest to the cooked pasta mixture.
Serving Suggestions
This is really an all-in-one kind easy meal, but if you wanted to add something else to round it out, try one of these recipes:
Related: Ground Sausage Recipes
Not ready to make this easy broccolini pasta dish yet? When you do make it, please come back and comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Pasta with Sausage and Broccolini
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Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta such as penne
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground sausage
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups broccolini cut into bite size pieces
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Set a large pot of salted water on the stove over high heat.
- When the water comes to a boil, cook the pasta according to the package instructions.1 lb pasta such as penne
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook brown the ground sausage, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat.1 lb ground sausage
- Transfer the sausage to a colander for all the grease to drain.
- Return the skillet to the stovetop and add the olive oil.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the minced garlic and broccolini pieces. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.3 cloves garlic, 2 cups broccolini
- Toss the pasta with the broccolini mixture and cooked sausage.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook for another couple of minutes until the cheese is melted.1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, as desired.kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes
Equipment
- Large pot
Video
Notes
Storage
To Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. (These are my favorite airtight containers.) To Reheat: Microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Nutrition
Meal Planning
Want to add this recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 43 along with:
- petite sirloin roast and acorn squash
- butter burgers
- jalapeno mac and cheese
- instant pot orange chicken
… and more!
Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
- Italian Sausage Pasta with Blistered Tomatoes
- Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake
- Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Pasta Charcuterie Board
- Chicken Caesar Pasta
- Steakhouse Pasta
- Broccoli Pasta Bake
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Tomato and Sausage Pasta
You’ll also love our Hearty Potato Sausage Casserole. Find more delicious Ground Sausage Recipes.
