Sausage, Broccoli & Chilli Pasta Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful pasta dish featuring rigatoni tossed with spicy pork sausage, tender broccoli, and a hint of chilli. Enhanced with garlic, parsley, crème fraîche, and fresh lemon for a creamy, zesty finish, this easy skillet meal comes together quickly for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 300g rigatoni
- 330g long-stemmed broccoli, any larger stems trimmed or halved
Meat and Seasonings
- 6 pork sausages, sausagemeat squeezed from its skins
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped, stems finely chopped
Finishing Ingredients
- 3 tbsp crème fraîche
- ½ lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced
Instructions
- Cook the pasta and broccoli: Boil a large pan of salted water and cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions. Add the broccoli during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking until just tender. Drain the pasta and broccoli together, reserving a mugful of the cooking water.
- Cook the sausagemeat: While the pasta cooks, place the sausagemeat and olive oil in a cold frying pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently for 6-8 minutes until the fat renders and the meat is golden and crisp. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausagemeat to a bowl, leaving the fat in the pan.
- Sauté aromatics: To the same pan, add the chilli flakes, crushed garlic, and parsley stems. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, stirring regularly.
- Combine and finish the dish: Stir in the lemon zest, then return the cooked sausagemeat to the pan. Add the drained rigatoni and broccoli, tossing well to combine. Stir in the crème fraîche and lemon juice along with a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook for another minute until everything is heated through and the sauce slightly coats the pasta.
- Serve: Divide the pasta among bowls and top with the finely sliced deseeded red chilli for extra color and heat.
Notes
- Use sausages with natural casings for best texture when scraping out the sausagemeat.
- Adjust chilli flakes and fresh red chilli to taste depending on your heat preference.
- Reserve pasta water helps loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- This dish works well with other short pasta shapes if rigatoni is unavailable.
- Crème fraîche adds a creamy tanginess, but you can substitute with sour cream or Greek yogurt if preferred.
Keywords: sausage pasta, broccoli pasta, spicy pasta, easy dinner, one-pan pasta, Italian pasta recipe, weeknight meal
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/sausage-broccoli-and-chilli-pasta-recipe/
