Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Recipe

This Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli is a delicious and nutritious weeknight dinner. Ready in 30 min + made with 5 simple ingredients!

📝 Ingredients

• 16 ounces broccoli florets (about 2 small crowns)
• 1 pound Orecchiette pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 16 ounces raw Italian sausage
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cups reserved pasta water
• topping: grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, red pepper flakes, freshly cracked pepper, flaky sea salt

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Prep broccoli: clean and trim broccoli. Chop florets into small pieces.
2. 2Cook pasta as directed on the package, but take off the heat 2 minutes early. BE SURE TO RESERVE 2 CUPS PASTA WATER.
3. 3Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet. When it’s hot, add sausage to the pan, breaking it up with the back of a spatula or spoon. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, until browned.
4. 4Add chopped broccoli and garlic to the pan, tossing everything together. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, until broccoli has softened. Add a sprinkle of water to help steam (and soften up) the broccoli.
5. 5When pasta is finished cooking, add the drained pasta to the pan, along with 1/2 of the pasta water.
6. 6Toss everything together and add extra pasta water if the mixture seems dry.
7. 7Serve with desired toppings: Parmesan cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, flaky sea salt, red pepper flakes, and freshly cracked pepper to taste.