Cavatelli with Italian Sausage and Broccoli
This Cavatelli with Italian Sausage and Broccoli is a simple pasta dish that satisfies the heartiest of appetites. It's a busy weeknight lifesaver! Minimal ingredients, easy cleanup and just delicious!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 651kcal
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets
- kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 lb. fresh Italian sausage, sweet or hot, removed from the casings
- 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz. cavatelli pasta
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 Tbsp. butter, cut into 4 pieces
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 4 minutes, until still somewhat crisp. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon to a colander to cool. Turn burner off, but leave water in pot to cook pasta later.
- In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often until lightly golden, about two minutes. Remove to a small bowl. Add the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook until lightly browned and no longer pink, breaking up into smaller pieces as it's cooking, about 7-8 minutes.
- Bring the reserved water in the pot to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, roughly chop the cooled broccoli and then add to the skillet with the sausage over medium heat. Add the garlic and mix until well combined. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
- Drain the pasta and add to the skillet. Add the chicken broth and cook until most of the broth is absorbed. Add the butter and stir until melted and heated through, then add the Parmesan cheese and stir until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately in bowls with additional grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
You can use either sweet or hot Italian sausage for this recipe.
If you don't have cavatelli, you can use another short pasta, like penne for example.
When you blanch your broccoli, you just want to blanch it for about 4 minutes so it's still a bit crunchy.
Nutrition
Calories: 651kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 762mg | Potassium: 666mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 922IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 3mg