Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
Being a grad student, we don’t usually get “breaks”. The days of enjoying a nice summer vacation or winter break are long gone! This week is spring break and I am thrilled that my advisor told us to take the week off! Although I still have a lot of writing to do this week, not having to get up super early just to get a stupid parking space on campus is going to be wonderful! I am going to sleep in everyday this week and nobody can stop me!!! Ha!
So this onto this pasta…This recipe comes from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law and is in the cookbook my friends and family gave me for my bridal shower (yeah, remember that book?! I haven’t forgotten about it!)! My mother-in-law made this for us when we were visiting over the holidays and it was quite yummy! And as goes with many of the pasta dishes I post, this one can also be pretty versatile. You can change up the protein and you can change up the veggies you use!
Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta - ready in 30 minutes! Pasta tossed in ground sausage, tender broccoli, and lots of Parmesan cheese!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. pasta (penne, rotini, or farfalle work well for this)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. spicy pork sausage, casings removed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, place broccoli in a steamer basket. Place in a saucepan over 1 in. of water; bring to a boil. Cover and steam for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain the pasta, but reserve 1 cup of the liquid.
- In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up into small pieces until the sausage is browned, about 8 minutes.
- Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli and toss to coat.
- Add the pasta and reserved cooking liquid 1/4 cup at a time. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 605Total Fat: 44gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 1143mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 28g
23 Comments on “Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta”
Wow! A deliciously healthy pasta. My daughter is sure gonna love this.
I love the simplicity of this pasta.. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
So simple, yet flavorful and delicious! I have some mild Italian sausage in the freezer that would taste great in your dish….mmmmmmmm.
Pastas with a little bit of meat and a little bit of veggies are just how I like them. Great recipe! Enjoy your little break.
Sound simple,healthy and Yummy, I don’t eat pork but I will use chicken sausage on this one :)
Yum! I just had a big thing of Asian noodles for lunch, now I’m already thinking I need to go make this for dinner. I think I even have all of the ingredients. I love that you mixed the past shapes too. I always do that when I don’t have enough of any one shape to make a big batch. Hope you enjoy your break!
Haha, yup! That is exactly what I did! Gotta use it all up!
Love this, Stephanie. This would be loved in my house for sure, yum!
I love this combo of pasta greens and sausage!! Simple ingredients with a big flavor punch!! YUM! Enjoy sleeping in. I don’t know what that feels like in the last 10 years since I have two little kids who have sucked all the luxury of sleeping in from me. :)
This looks lovely! Sausage normally does a number on my tummy, so I might have to get creative on what to use instead. It looks very very good though. I think I would suffer through the consequences for this one! ;-)
I just made a very similar recipe from the pages of Everyday Food magazine last night! It’s almost exactly the same, and SO delicious. Thanks for sharing, Stephanie! Yours looks perfect!
Great recipe :) Simple and delicious perfect for me ~ Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy your week off! This pasta looks wonderfully savory, with great crunch from the broccoli.
I love Italian sausage with pasta – this looks delicious!
I want your advisor! Mine is surprised if we actually stay at home for a University Holiday…
Anyways, the pasta looks delicious :) Love the broccoli in this!
Delicious flavors here and I like that it is light. While it may be light I am sure the sausage lends just enough spice to make you want more, well done!
I hear you! Grad students know no holiday!
This dish will make a great mid-week meal! love it :)
Next week is my spring break, and as a teacher, I definitely know what you mean b no time off. I definitely have a stack of papers to grade and lesson plans to write over that week. At least I’ll be able to sleep in while doing it :) Love this pasta! The spicy sausage will definitely win over my husband!
What a great versatile pasta dish! I love pasta’s and it’s on our menu at least once a week. Enjoy your week off!
YUM!! This looks and sounds just AMAZING!!!!
Oooh, I keep coming across spicy sausage tonight! The universe must be trying to tell me something ;-). This looks so simple and delicious Stephanie!
Pasta is so wonderfully versatile you can almost plan a whole month’s dinner around it and never eat the same thing twice. And easy, which we imagine appeals to a grad student on spring break…. great flavors in this! Enjoy sleeping in!
I so don’t miss the days of fighting for a parking space on campus! Especially because the school I went to was on the side of a valley – the parking garage was at the very bottom and most of my classes were at the very top!