Description
A quick and comforting Simple Sausage and Broccoli Pasta featuring Italian sausage, fresh broccoli, and a creamy parmesan sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines savory sausage with tender broccoli florets tossed in a rich half-and-half and parmesan cheese sauce, perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sausage
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 1 (17.6 oz/500g) Italian sausages, cut into small pieces or crumbled
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown Sausage: Heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage pieces and cook, stirring often, until browned and mostly cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.
- Cook Broccoli: Reduce the heat to medium, add the broccoli florets to the skillet, cover with a lid, and cook for 4 minutes to soften the broccoli slightly.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the half-and-half, allowing it to bubble gently for a couple of minutes while scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate into the sauce. Check broccoli for doneness and cook longer if needed.
- Finish Sauce and Combine: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss it thoroughly with the sauce and sausage mixture. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage according to your preferred spice level (mild or spicy).
- This dish can be prepared with gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat.
- Half-and-half can be substituted with heavy cream for a richer sauce or a dairy-free alternative if necessary.
- To save time, cook pasta ahead of time and reheat with sauce before serving.
