• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Sign Up for Emails
  • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Cocktails
  • Instagram
  • Contact
    • About
    • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy

Basil And Bubbly logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Sign Up for Emails
  • Recipes
  • Find Recipe from Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Sauce and Sausage

    March 2, 2020 Main Dishes

    Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Sauce and Sausage

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Print

    File this one under: things I never thought would be good, but turned out to be AMAZING.  Today, we're essentially going to overcook broccoli and turn it into a sausage-y, broth-y, broccoli sauce for orecchiette.

    Jump to Recipe
    orechiette with broccoli sauce

    This is a dish I have made for YEARS, but even I'll admit the first time I made it I was skeptical.

    See, overcooking vegetables isn't really I think I care to do. I like that crisp crunch of a perfectly blanched veggies, not a sad mushiness usually reserved for things that have been boiled to death or canned.

    broccoli sauce with sausage

    But this sauce knows what it's doing. This sauce makes boiled broccoli SHINE. You can make the sauce and add it with any pasta, but I realllllly love the orechiette with sausage and broccoli because it cups the sauce in the most lovely way.

    And of course it does - afterall, orechiette means "little ear" in Italian! And they do look like little ear cups! Totally adorable.

    orechiette with broccoli in a dutch oven

    What You'll Need to Make Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausage

    • Dried Pasta
    • Roughly Chopped Broccoli Florets
    • Italian Sweet Sausage
    • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
    • Grated Italian Hard Cheese ( Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, or Piave are all nice choices )
    • Pasta Water

    How to make pasta sauce with broccoli?

    Because it seems like surely that shouldn't be a thing! But it is and it's wonderful.

    The overall method is to cook a flavorful sausage into crumbles in a pan. Then boil the broccoli until it is soft, add it to the sausage pan, and smash it down into a very chunky sauce. You'll then add pasta water to thin the sauce out just a little bit.

    Season with crushed red pepper flakes, if you are brave and like a little kick. I always like a little kick.

    orecchiette pasta with broccoli sauce

    [oih_opt_in id="5"]

    orecchiette pasta with broccoli sauce

    Orecchiette with Broccoli and Sausage

    An easy weeknight pasta recipe with a broccoli sauce flavored with sausage.
    Recipe from BasilAndBubbly.com
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: broccoli, orrecchiette, sausage
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 18 minutes
    Total Time: 28 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Marianne

    Ingredients

    • 3 links Sweet Italian sausage casings removed
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 8 ounces orecchiette
    • 1 lb frozen broccoli florets
    • ½ Tablespoon red pepper flakes more or less to taste.
    • 3 Tablespoons butter
    • 2 cups pasta water
    • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Bring a large, heavy bottomed pot full of water ( at least 8 cups ) to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli florets and boil them for 3 minutes, or until they become very tender. Using a slotted spoon or other utensil that allows the water to drain, remove the broccoli pieces from the water and set them aside.
      Add the orecchiette to the boiling water and cook it according to package directions ( likely around 12 minutes ). Make sure to reserve 2 cups of cooking water before straining the pasta!!!
    • While the orecchiette is cooking ... In a large skillet, brown the sausage in the olive oil by cooking it for 6 to 8 minutes over medium high heat. Make sure before cooking that you have removed the sausage from the link casing OR are using loose ground sausage.
    • Add the broccoli, red pepper flakes, and butter to the sausage pan and stir to combine. Mash the broccoli into the sausage the pan with a wooden spoon.
    • Reduce the heat to medium. Slowly stir the pasta water into the broccoli/sausage mix, ½ cup at a time. Add the pasta to the pan and stir to combine it with the sauce. Add the parmesan to the pan and stir it again to combine.
      Serve with additional grated cheese for topping.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @basilandbubbly or tag #basilandbubbly!
    « Frozen Grasshopper Cocktail
    Caipirinha »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa says

      April 18, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      Who knew broccoli made a great sauce?! Simple and delicious! This will be a go to for sure.

      Reply

    Please share your thoughts on this recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Heyyyyyyy!

    My name is Marianne, and I'm two parts food, one part booze, and a dash of snark. I live in Atlanta, GA with my two cats. My personal motto: Champagne and stretchy pants. Sign up for my mailing list to keep up with the new and seasonal recipes!

    as seen in

    Recent Posts

    • Pineapple Infused Vodka (Stoli Doli)
    • Roasted Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde
    • Air Fryer Onions
    • Espresso Martini
    • Buffalo Shrimp Tacos

    Most Popular

    Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    Perfect Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    air fryer sweet potato fries

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

    Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

    Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Copyright© 2022 · Cookd Pro by Shay Bocks