This Sausage and Broccoli Pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner. A light, flavorful sauce, Italian sausage, pasta, fresh broccoli, and plenty of Pecorino Romano cheese to finish everything off. 30 minutes, a few simple ingredients, and you’ve got the most delicious dinner.
The Quickest Weeknight Dinner: Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
and a light lemony sauce that coats it all!
I am big fan of a quick and easy pasta dish. It’s hearty, comforting, and such an easy option when making dinner is the last thing you want to do.
This sausage and broccoli pasta with Italian sausage is a quick 30 minute weeknight dinner that checks all the boxes. Flavorful, easy, and quick! Tender pasta, fresh broccoli, and crisped sausage all come together to give you an incredibly flavorful pasta that’s coated in a light yet creamy sauce. You’re going to love this one!
Sausage and Broccoli Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta: I’ve tested this recipe using both penne and rigatoni! Both of those pasta shapes work really well.
- Broccoli florets: Fresh broccoli is what you want for this recipe! I’ve tested in with frozen and it’s just not the same.
- Garlic: Because this recipe uses such simple ingredients, it’s important to use the freshest you can find. Fresh garlic just adds a flavor that jarred garlic can’t.
- Ground Italian Pork Sausage: I tested this recipe with both a hot Italian sausage and mild. Both work incredibly well. If you like a little extra heat, go with the hot Italian sausage variety.
- Pecorino Romano Cheese: my use of Pecorino Romano in this dish instead of parmesan is intentional. I find that it has a punchier flavor that works so well in this simple dish.
- Lemon Zest: Another must-have that just really helps my version of this classic recipe stand out. Don’t skip it!
My Tips for How To Make Sausage and Broccoli Pasta From Scratch
- Cut the broccoli into roughly the same size. This will ensure that it cooks evenly.
- Don’t overcook your pasta. Cook the pasta al dente so that it still has a bit of bite.
- Salt your water while cooking the pasta to ensure that it has plenty of flavor.
- Don’t skip using fresh garlic. It really makes such a difference.
and it turns out so good every single time.
I hope you give this Sausage and Broccoli Pasta a try! If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings / #allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.
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Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Sausage and Broccoli Pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner. A light, flavorful sauce, Italian sausage, pasta, fresh broccoli, and plenty of Pecorino Romano cheese to finish everything off. 30 minutes, a few simple ingredients, and you’ve got the most delicious dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 16 oz broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground Italian pork sausage
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (plus more to taste)
- 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano (plus more for serving)
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Heat a large pot of water to boiling. Once boiling liberally salt the water and then add the pasta—Cook the pasta to al dente (according to the package instructions). During the last two minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets before draining, reserve 2 cups of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli, and then set aside.
- Return the pot to the stove and bring the heat to medium-high. Next, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the Italian sausage and break it up as it begins to cook. When the sausage is no longer pink, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the sausage is browned.
- Reduce the heat to low, and then add the pasta and broccoli back to the pot.
- Next, add 1 1/2 cups of pasta water, grated cheese, and fresh lemon zest to the pot and stir until everything is well combined. The pasta water will help to create a thin sauce that coats the pasta. If you need to, feel free to add the additional half cup of pasta water to create more sauce.
- Serve the pasta with additional grated cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh lemon zest on top.
Photography: Casey Colodny / THE MINDFUL HAPA
Great weeknight meal. I’ve made it twice and my hubby and son love it!!! Definitely a keeper
Does this recipe call for hot or mild Italian sausage? Thx!
Hi, Patti! either will work well!
Excellent, quick and easy recipe! I was unsure about using the pasta water, as I’ve never done anything like that before, but it turned out great. My husband loved it–I’ll be making this again!
So good! Made this for my husband and I. Perfect amount for some leftovers for lunch. Quick and easy! Perfect weeknight dinner!
This is the PERFECT weeknight meal! I’ve been off my cooking game lately (ah, Summer) so I was looking for something simple to get back into my routine tonight, and this was it! The lemon zest, to me, was the star of this dish – the citrusy zing compliments and highlights the other flavors so, so well. Truly delicious and I can’t wait to get into these leftovers tomorrow! Thank you Ashlea!!
Easy and delicious!
It was easy to make! It was SO delicious! I will definitely make it again.
The lemon zest sounds like a great addition, and using the pasta water is wonderful tip! Sounds very “Gourmet”, yet EASY! Can’t wait to try it!
Delicious, so easy, and love the small ingredients list!
This is SO SO good! I made it for dinner and had the leftovers for lunch the next day. Such basic ingredients with SO much flavor! This is going to be one of my go to recipes.
I made this yesterday and it was a big hit. So delicious! Thank you.
Such a great addition for week night dinner rotation! even with some frozen broccoli this dinner was delicious! who doesn’t love pasta on a tuesday?
So good. Super easy and family freindly recipe!
I”m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Allison! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
This was super easy to make and tasted delicious! I will definitely be adding this recipe in the rotation.
I”m so glad you liked this recipe, Alisa! Thanks for sharing!
This was an easy meal to make and a hit with my family. Will definitely be making again!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that, Stacy! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Do you have a favorite gluten free pasta? I’ve tried so many and am curious if you have a go to?
Hi Holly! Ashlea likes to use Jovial. Thanks for your question!
I’m on an ATHT tear this week – different recipe every night. This was easy and delicious. Can’t wait to have the leftovers!