Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
Packed with flavor and easy to make, this orecchiette with sausage and broccoli is a longtime favoriteโthe whole family gobbles it up, veggies and all!
Sometimes it seems impossible to make a meal that pleases the whole family. What one child happily eats, the other one suddenly isnโt โin the mood for.โ But every once in a while, I come across a recipe that everyone loves, like this orecchiette pasta dish adapted from Lidiaโs Italian Table by Lidia Bastianich. Not only is it quick and easy to makeโ25 minutes topsโbut the whole family devours it, broccoli and all.
โMy whole family loves this (even my 5 year old who doesnโt typically like pasta). Itโs so nice to have an easy go-to meal for the middle of the week that my small children get excited about and so does my husband. Thank you!!โ
What Youโll Need To Make Orecchiette With Sausage & Broccoli
- Orecchiette is named for its shape, which resembles a small ear (the Italian word orecchiette means small ear). If you canโt find it, itโs fine to substitute another pasta, like farfalle or fusilli.
- Italian sausage is a great ingredient to have on hand for weeknight dinners. Not only is it quick and easy to cook, but itโs also flavored with a variety of aromatics, herbs and spices, such as garlic and fennel, which add depth and complexity to pasta dishes without the need for a lot of additional seasoning. This makes it an easy and convenient way to add flavor to pasta dishes, such as baked ziti and lasagna. Buy bulk sausage, or sausage meat without the casing, if possible (itโs often easy to find around holiday season as itโs used in stuffing recipes). Otherwise, just squeeze the sausage meat out of the casing.
- Pecorino Romano is a hard, salty, and pungent Italian cheese made from sheepโs milk. Itโs readily available in grated form in the cheese section of most large supermarkets but if you canโt find it, itโs fine to substitute Parmigiano Reggiano.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the pasta.ย Bring a large pot of salted water to a boilโit should taste like the sea. Add the orecchiette and cook until al dente.
Step 2: Brown the sausage. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Step 3: Cook the broccoli. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil along with the broccoli, chicken broth, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the broccoli is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 4: Enrich the sauce. Stir in the butter until melted, then simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
Step 5: Toss it all together. Add the sausage and broccoli mixture to the drained pasta and tossย well, along with half of the grated cheese.
Step 6: Serve. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl or individual bowls and top with the remaining grated cheese. Enjoy!
Video Tutorial
More Italian Pasta Dishes Youโll Love
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
Ingredientsย
- 16 oz orecchiette
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 lb sweet or spicy Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 lb broccoli florets
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- ยผ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ยฝ cup freshly grated pecorino Romano
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orecchiette and cook according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic; cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil, chicken broth, broccoli, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan to release the flavorful brown bits, until the broccoli is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted and simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
- Drain the pasta well and place back in the pasta pot. Add the sausage and broccoli mixture, along with half of the cheese, and toss to blend. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls and pass the remaining grated cheese at the table.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I couldnโt find bulk sausage so I had to squeeze it out of the casings but it turned out fine. Super easy to make and tastes like I worked harder than I did. I made the recipe exactly as written. Thanks Jenn!
Super delicious. Sometimes I cut a little of the pasta and add extra broccoli. Leftovers are also good!
This is a family favorite and always a hit with my young kids, which is a big plus! I omit the red pepper flakes for the sake of the kids and add it in later for the adults. I also cook the broccoli a bit longer (maybe about 10 minutes). Since it tends to dry out in the fridge, I reheat it in a frying pan with a bit of olive oil and chicken broth.
Kid approved!! My kiddos love this pasta recipe! They pretty much wonโt eat any red sauce pasta (or Mac n cheese lately) so having this in the rotation is great!
My family LOVES this recipe. It is quite filling, and between the slight crunch of broccoli, the savory sausage, and the fun pasta shape, it is truly a crowd pleaser. It has become a standby!
This recipe has become a staple in our dinner rotation! Super easy to whip together, with the addition of flavorful Italian sausage and crisp broccoli. Doesnโt taste too heavy for a pasta dish. We will continue making this.
We have made so many of your recipes and have enjoyed them all. This one is the one we make most frequently. Amazingly delicious and easy. What a great combo!
OMG this is the best recipe I did with sausage & orecchiette. I usually do it with rappini, but this one with the broccoliโฆA-M-A-Z-I-N-Gโฆwasnโt dry it was perfect.
Iโve made this several times and it always turns out great! Made it for some friends and they asked for the recipe.
Itโs so very filling and makes a lot, so I usually freeze 1/2 of it. Never disappoints, even out of the freezer
Absolutely love this recipeโ as a newer โchefโ, this recipe made me continue to want to cook. Itโs simple and delicious. Orecchiette is one of my favorite pastas, and the way the sausage and broccoli pieces fall into it is just perfect. ๐