Broccoli Pasta with Sausage
Broccoli Pasta with Sausage is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring tender pasta, savory sausage, and vibrant broccoli, all tossed in a garlic-infused parmesan sauce. The combination of spicy or mild sausage with the fresh, crisp broccoli creates a meal the whole family will love!
For other delicious pasta recipes, try The Ultimate Lasagna Recipe, a simple Summer Pasta Salad, or Baked Feta Pasta with Spinach!
Broccoli Pasta
I’ve decided that SueBee Homemaker is definitely lacking pasta recipes, so I’m remedying that STAT. This pasta is one I’ve made several times, but finally perfected the process.
The key is to get the parmesan cheese to melt into a smooth sauce, and while this may not be 100% every time, I think it works really well. Just remember to save some of that salty pasta water. If you do that and grate your own parmesan chunk, you will be much happier with the result. I promise!
Why this recipe works:
- Minimal ingredients. The main ingredients include pasta, broccoli, sausage, and parmesan cheese. The others are just a few seasonings, garlic, and the pasta water.
- A simple process. Just two pans are needed – one to cook the garlic/sausage and one to cook the pasta. Then you combine them and finish. Trust me, it’s simple!
- Healthier pasta recipe. While pasta includes carbs, this recipe also includes healthy greens (broccoli!) and lean turkey sausage (or you can use regular sausage). No cream based sauce here either!
- SO delicious! We love the light flavor of this broccoli pasta and you will too!
Craving more broccoli recipes? Try our Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry or Broccoli Rice Casserole!
Ingredients Used:
You can keep most of these ingredients stocked in your pantry, and then pick up the fresh items at the last minute.
- Rigatoni Pasta – I love this pasta shape with this recipe, but you could use something else as well.
- Turkey Sausage – Use whatever flavor you like best. I used a spicy sausage which was excellent. You could also use regular pork sausage.
- Broccoli – You will need a good portion of two heads (or more, depending on size) of broccoli, but will cut off most of the stems.
- Butter plus Olive Oil – These two ingredients are the base to the easy sauce for this pasta.
- Garlic – The minced garlic adds so much flavor. I recommend using fresh garlic over the powdered version.
- Parmesan Cheese – Use freshly grated parmesan for best results. The fresh stuff actually melts! 😀
- Salt and Pepper – I always use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. You will need plenty of salt for boiling the pasta.
- Pasta Water – THIS is another very important part of this pasta recipe. Make sure you reserve some for the sauce!
- Red Pepper Flakes – An optional ingredient but makes it so good.
How to make Rigatoni with Broccoli:
This REALLY is the easiest pasta recipe. The important part is to reserve some pasta water and make sure you add plenty of parmesan cheese.
Step 1
Prep. Cut the broccoli into florets, trimming the stems off. Mince the garlic. Freshly shred the parmesan cheese.
Step 2
Brown the sausage. Remove the turkey sausage from the casings. (if using regular pork sausage, you may not need to do this.) Cook in a skillet over medium heat, until done. Add to a colander to strain out some of the grease.
Step 3
Cook pasta. Fill a large stock pot about halfway with water. Bring to a boil – and add pasta along with a good amount of salt. The salt is important to flavor the pasta AND the pasta water (that will be used later).
After about 6-7 minutes, add the broccoli to the same pot. Cook until broccoli is JUST tender and pasta is al dente – just a few minutes more.
Step 4
RESERVE PASTA WATER and drain. Dip a one-cup measuring cup into the cooked pasta and broccoli to reserve the pasta water. Then drain the pasta and broccoli in the sink using a colander.
Step 5
Make pasta sauce. Heat a pot over medium-low heat. Add butter and when melted, add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Then add half of the freshly shredded parmesan cheese and about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Stir constantly until cheese is melted.
Add the remaining parmesan, more pasta water, and some red pepper flakes. Stir again until melted. You may need additional pasta water (up to a cup).
Step 6
Add pasta, broccoli, and sausage to the sauce. Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and sausage to the sauce and stir well to coat. (You may want to add more pasta water here.) Test for seasonings.
Step 7
Serve. Serve broccoli pasta with additional parmesan cheese and extra seasoning as needed.
Store leftover broccoli pasta in an airtight container for 3-4 days. We like to meal prep this too.
Recipe FAQs:
When you bite into the pasta, and your teeth feel some resistance, but the pasta is still tender, you’ve reached al dente.
Freshly grated parmesan cheese actually melts while the powdered version usually just clumps. We now stick to wedges of parmesan cheese only!
For this recipe, I cooked the pasta for several minutes before adding the broccoli. You want the broccoli to be a bit crisp (not mushy) and the pasta to be al dente.
What to serve with Rigatoni Pasta and Broccoli:
- Spinach Salad with Avocado and Goat Cheese – This is one of our go-to salad recipes.
- Chewy French Bread – I keep extra loaves in our freezer for meals like this.
- Dessert? How about The Best Peanut Butter Cookies or some Brown Butter Toffee Cookies!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Broccoli Pasta with Sausage Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound turkey sausage (or any pork sausage) – removed from casings
- 12 oz. rigatoni pasta – or another type of pasta is fine
- 8-10 cups broccoli florets
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 4-5 cloves garlic – minced
- 6-8 oz. freshly grated parmesan cheese – or about 2 cups
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water – you may not need all of the pasta water
- red pepper flakes – to serve
Instructions
- Prep. Cut the broccoli into florets, trimming the stems off. Mince the garlic. Freshly shred the parmesan cheese.
- Brown the sausage. Remove the turkey sausage from the casings. (if using regular pork sausage, you may not need to do this.) Cook in a skillet over medium heat, until done. Add to a colander to strain out some of the grease.2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 pound turkey sausage (or any pork sausage)
- Cook pasta. Fill a large stock pot about halfway with water. Bring to a boil – and add pasta along with a good amount of salt. The salt is important to flavor the pasta AND the pasta water (that will be used later).After about 6-7 minutes, add the broccoli to the same pot. Cook until broccoli is JUST tender and pasta is al dente – just a few minutes more.12 oz. rigatoni pasta, 8-10 cups broccoli florets
- RESERVE PASTA WATER and drain. Dip a one-cup measuring cup into the cooked pasta and broccoli to reserve the pasta water. Then drain the pasta and broccoli in the sink using a colander.
- Make pasta sauce. Heat a pot over medium-low heat. Add butter and when melted, add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Then add half of the freshly shredded parmesan cheese and about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Stir constantly until cheese is melted.Add the remaining parmesan, more pasta water, and some red pepper flakes. Stir again until melted. You may need additional pasta water (up to a cup).3 Tablespoons butter, 4-5 cloves garlic, 6-8 oz. freshly grated parmesan cheese, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 cup reserved pasta water, red pepper flakes
- Add pasta, broccoli, and sausage to the sauce. Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and sausage to the sauce and stir well to coat. (You may want to add more pasta water here.) Test for seasonings.
- Serve. Serve broccoli pasta with additional parmesan cheese and extra seasoning as needed.
This was delicious! Loved the lighter version of the sauce. Will definitely be making this again!
Thanks Jena! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This recipe is awesome and take advantage of the pro tip….. Serve with the Chewy French Bread!
Yes please! 🙂