Sausage and Broccoli Pasta with a Parmesan Cream Sauce

This is a quick and easy weeknight meal that you’ll actually enjoy eating. Tons of flavor, simple ingredients, and plenty of yummy Parmesan. Oh, don’t overcook the broccoli! You want it to be crisp-tender, not mushy.

This is so easy to throw together, and everyone in my family loves it. Even my kids will eat the broccoli in it, which makes me happy. It also makes amazing leftovers for lunch the next day. Honestly, I could eat this once a week and never get tired of it!

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

The orecchiette pasta is the best for holding the sauce and sausage, but you can use bow-tie pasta too. Or whatever you have on hand. Don’t worry about it too much. You can also substitute the broccoli for cauliflower. And always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese! It makes such a difference.

This will feed 6 people, but doesn’t freeze well. If you’d like to double or triple this recipe to feed a crowd, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• 1 pound orecchiette pasta
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 1 pound Italian mild or hot sausage, casings removed
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic, about 3 cloves
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 3 cups chopped broccoli, about two crowns of broccoli
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup shredded Parmesan

How to Make Sausage Broccoli Pasta

For a creamier sauce, add more cream and cheese at the end.

Step One: Cook Your Pasta

Get a big pot of salted water boiling. Toss in that pound of orecchiette and cook it just like the package says. When it’s done, drain it and put it back in the pot (off the heat, obviously). Stir in those 2 tablespoons of butter while it’s still hot. This is a life hack that will make people like you and come steal hot pasta out of the kitchen while you are working. Butter your pasta.

Step Two: Cook Your Sausage

While your pasta’s cooking, grab a large skillet and heat it up over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and dump in your sausage. Break it up with a wooden spoon – I just go at it until it’s all crumbly and nice and brown. Takes about 8-10 minutes. Then toss in your garlic and oregano and let that garlic cook for just another minute. Don’t let it burn!

Step Three: Add The Broccoli

Now add your broccoli, chicken broth, the other 2 tablespoons of oil, salt, and pepper right into that sausage pan. Stir it around every so often until the broccoli is crisp-tender – about 4-5 minutes. You still want it to have a little bite. Pour in the cream and let everything warm up for another minute or two.

Step Four: Bring It All Together

Now dump all that sausage and broccoli into the pot with your buttered pasta. Stir it all up and add ½ cup of the Parmesan. Give it a taste and add more salt and pepper if it needs it. Feel free to add more cream and cheese if you want a creamier sauce.

Step Five: Serve

Get this on plates while it’s hot and sprinkle each serving with some of that extra Parmesan.

Serve with a simple green salad, garlic bread, and a glass of chilled white wine. You’re so elegant.

Storing leftovers

Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. This doesn’t freeze well.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

Keep some of these recipes on hand when you don’t have time or the energy (or both).

• This crockpot cheesy chicken broccoli and rice only needs 15 minutes of prep.
• Sausage and zucchini skillet is comforting, fresh, and perfect for summer.
• One-pot Italian sausage pasta is quick and flavorful with simple pantry ingredients.
• And when all else fails, make a party sub sandwich. Sandwiches are still dinner.

Printable Recipe