Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
Sometimes it seems impossible to make a meal the whole family loves: what one child happily eats, the other one is “not in the mood for” (really?!). But every once in a while, I come upon a winner, like this delicious orecchiette pasta dish adapted from Lidia’s Italian Table by Lidia Bastianich. Not only is it quick and easy to make — 25 minutes tops — the whole family eats it up, broccoli and all.
Begin by cooking the pasta. I use orecchiette, which is the classic pasta for this dish. The name comes from its shape, which resembles a small ear (the Italian word orecchiette means small ear). If you can’t find it, it’s fine to substitute any other pasta you like.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large sauté pan and add the sausage. As you can see, I use “bulk” Italian sausage, which is simply sausage meat sold out of the casing. My supermarket stocks it right near the ground pork but if you can’t find it, it’s fine to buy regular Italian sausage and either cut the casings off or squeeze the meat out.
Cook, breaking the meat up with a spoon, until the sausage starts to brown, 5-6 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil, broccoli, chicken broth, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the broccoli is tender-crisp, 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the butter until melted and simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
Add the cooked and drained pasta and toss well.
Add half of the grated cheese. The recipe calls for Pecorino Romano — a hard, salty Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk which is sold in most large supermarkets. If you can’t find it, it’s fine to substitute Parmigiano Reggiano. Finally, transfer to a serving bowl or individual bowls and top with the remaining grated cheese.
Note: Traditionally (and in the original recipe), this dish is made with broccoli rabe. I use broccoli because it’s easier to find and child-friendly.
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 pound orecchiette
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 pound broccoli florets
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 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, 5-6 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, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted and simmer for a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the sauce.
- Drain the pasta well and add to the sausage and broccoli mixture. Toss to blend. Add half of the grated cheese taste and stir until the cheese is melted. Taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls and sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 624
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Sugar: 3 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Sodium: 692 mg
- Cholesterol: 51 mg
Reviews & Comments
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5 Stars. I love this recipe. I make it with broccoli rabe also. This is a very traditional italian dish. One meal in one dish with a salad.
Another winner! This is sooo good! Pecorino Romano is one of my favorites and always have it in my fridge. I love the taste of the melted cheese in the dish! My husband is a big fan of orechiette. And I love the Hatfield ground sausages…their ground chorizo is another good one!
I followed the recipe and was very disappointed. Very bland and to much pasta. Will not try this one again.
This is delicious !!! Used Johnsonville Hot Italian sausage. Topped it with Romano cheese and finely zested lemon rind. Yum!!
Made this recipe per instructions as I always do….then make changes. No changes necessary! Absolutely delicious! Have shared recipe several times! Enjoy!!
I have made this twice in one week! We have our daughter and sil staying with us for a few weeks and I decided to try this. So easy to make and quick and it was a huge hit. We had leftover pizza so I made this to go along with it. My daughter is now signed up for your emails.
The only change I made was to not brown the sausage in oil. I sprayed the pan with non stick spray.
This was delicious. Followed the recipe exactly – wouldn’t change a thing. Very similar to a dish I usually make with all evoo (no broth or butter), but I liked that this had more “sauce”. (I probably used more broccoli than the 1 lb. called for, but it turned out great.) Will be making this again.
I’m teaching my fifteen year old granddaughter to cook, and we came across this recipe. we both agreed that this would be a good recipe for her to try. She made it exactly as listed, and it turned out great! Then we did it again with a few changes: We susbstituted D’Alesso chicken sausage with apple and maple syrup, bumped up the garlic, added mozzarella with the parmesan, and because orrechiette is hard to find sometimes, we substituted medium shells. Awesome!! Five Stars All The Way! Serving this at the next family dinner! Don’t need to serve anything else but dessert! A complete meal all by itself! Thanks to Once Upon A Chef for a winning recipe!
I found this site originally looking for a beef bourguignon (her recipe is the best I’ve ever tasted) and signed up for the newsletter still riding the high from the delicious stew. Every single recipe I’ve tried since has been a huge success. This one even more so because my impossibly picky 4 year old gobbled it up with no complaints. No. Complaints. I wasn’t totally sure what to do with myself during dinner without having to coax her to eat her food.
I made this with a basic roast new potato with whole garlic and pearl onion and it made enough for 4 adults and two little ones with some left over for lunch which my husband and I will inevitably try to steal from each other.
🙂 Glad everyone enjoyed!
One little trick I do is use the pasta water and a bullion cube instead of broth in order to thicken the sauce a little.
Very good, very rich and easy to make. I cut the recipe in half for 2 adults and still had a little left over. Will definitely make again.
This was really good. I added a yellow squash, quick sauteed and quartered Campari tomatoes. Delicous. My family loved it and are looking forward to the leftovers. Thank you for sharing.
For such a simple recipe, this was surprisingly flavorful! I added fresh cracked pepper for some extra bite! The leftovers were perfect for workday lunches.
Hey Jenn! Tried this recipe last night, added a little white wine after the sausage was cooked! BAZINGA! One of the best pasta dishes ever! Thank you for your recipes!
Tried this recipe, and everyone really liked alot (good way to sneak in veggies).
I also tried a variation with chicken tenders – (added the olive oil at the beginning, and sprinkled Cajun seasoning on both sides of the chicken tenders and sauteed with the garlic). Omitted the red pepper and broccoli, and instead added some sliced mushrooms, baby spinach, finely sliced red onion, finely sliced red and green pepper (can also add a splash of heavy cream or creme fresh if desired). Can add more Cajun spice if desired too.
This is my 14 year old son’s favorite pasta. In fact, anytime I suggest trying a different pasta recipe, he just asks me to make this one instead. I use linguine since he likes long noodles. I also add fresh basil. Delicious!!! This recipe is a keeper… no question.
Im going to make this but want to add mushrooms—do you think I should increase the broth/liquid?
Hi Brooke, yes you could increase it by a half cup or so.
Jenn: You NEVER fail me. This recipe is so quick and flavorful. Had broccoli fresh from a local farm. I even used the stalk. Just small chopped and parboiled them in some chicken broth until tender added them before serving. Lots of mouth watering comments at the dinner table. Thanks again “C”
This is a great quick, easy, weeknight pasta dish, but also special enough for company. I use half sweet and half hot Italian sausage. No other changes in ingredients and no changes in the technique. For just the two of us I halve the recipe, which is just right for a second night of leftovers. I love how much flavor is in the pasta dish with so few ingredients. Another winner!!!
We make this once every few weeks and my 3 and 6 yr old love it (and leftovers just as much)! And it’s super fast and easy to make.
We found this to be a quick, but very flavorful, dish! My husband, not a typical pasta enthusiast, loved this dish as did my kids. This has become a regular on our menu!
Do you drain the sausage after browning? thnx Lala
No, Lala, it’s not necessary and it adds great flavor to the dish. Hope you enjoy!
Made this for dinner tonight. Easy and wonderful flavor combinations.
This was perfect as a side dish (minus the sausage). We paired it with the “perfectly grilled chicken” recipe and it made for a great meal!
Easy recipe that takes minimal time and effort. Good choice for a weekday family meal. I would not select it as entree for guests. No oil is needed to brown the sausage. I also cut in the half the suggested amount to add to the pasta. The amount of chicken broth called for in the recipe was not sufficient to steam/cook the broccoli–I used 1.5 times the amount called for and that seemed perfect. The suggested amounts of seasonings (salt, garlic, hot pepper flakes, black pepper) was spot on. Will make this again for a quick and easy dinner.
I have made this over and over and its always a hit. Better than restaurant versions. Since I am trying to watch my weight, I am now substituting the pasta for spaghetti squash and using sweet italian turkey sausage (jeni-O brand is good).
This way I feel less guilty about an extra serving!
This recipe was great! I made it several months ago, and it was a hit…I did add some extra chicken stock tho, as we like a bit more sauce.
I would like to make this recipe for a large dinner party as a side dish (50 people) how do I change the proportions of ingredients.
Hi Bev, Because it’s a side dish, I’d suggest multiplying the recipe ingredients by 5 to 6. Hope the party is a success!
Love this recipe. The only change I made was I used regular broccoli and not broccoli rabe – not a fan. The recipe however is the best. Easy and flavorful…the family loved it. Great for a quick dinner when you have a short night.
My picky eater loved it, and ate without complaint! You have no idea what a victory that is. If I cut back on the pasta, should I drop the amount of broth/oil/Romano? Or is that mainly to help the broccoli cook?
No need to cut back, Karen (yes, it helps the broccoli cook). So glad your picky eater loved it!
Another homerun Jennifer!! I made this for company tonight and everyone loved it. You hit the trifecta again. Easy, tasty and quick. Thanks for another great recipe!!
I love this recipe. Fast and delicious. When I use broccoli rabe I just pour the pasta water over the broccoli rabe to cook it. Otherwise, I don’t change a single thing.
This recipe is a family favorite…requested every week! My family loves when I substitute escarole for the broccoli. I also omit the salt…there is enough for us in the chicken broth and cheese. Follow the rest as written we love it!
I used lower fat turkey sausage and a mix of some fresh parm and some dried romano and it was delicious. It didn’t look like much coming together, but the flavour was wonderful and kids and husband all enjoyed too!
Hi Jen! Thank again for the fantastic recipe! I wanted to make for dinner tonight but it turns out I only have some Tuscan kale on hand. Will that work in substitution for the broccoli?? Worried it may be too bitter. Thank you! ?
Hi Jen, I think kale would be delicious. Please let me know how it turns out!
DELICIOUS!!!! Huge hit! I used Broccolini instead and squirted a little fresh lemon before serving. I have yet to make something on this site that hasn’t been amazing.
In the past I’ve made similar dishes using pasta, broccoli, and sausage/bacon; and this recipe is the best one I’ve ever found. Although the Parmigiano Reggiano I’ve used in previous renditions would work fine (as you say), I think the flavor and texture of the Pecorino Romano blends perfectly with the sauce. And the butter makes the sauce absolutely heavenly. My family and I gobbled it up!
terrific Friday evening dish. Easy to make and absolutely delicious. Great new addition to the repetoire!!!
Delicious. Used sweet fennel sausage, brocollini, parmigiana reggiano. Will definitely make again. SO good. Thank you.
Made this last night and enjoyed it. Did not use any oil rather added more pepper flakes and a touch of garlic which enhanced the flavour. Think this would be good with chicken also.
Quick – easy and really enjoyable
Made this – yum! The only thing I changed is that I omitted the olive oil completely. It absolutely does not need it with all of that sausage grease and butter. It didn’t turn out dry at all. We’ll make this again!
This dish is so much better than you think it will taste reading the ingredients. Truely worth a try. This has quickly become a do again.
This was very easy to make and very tasty. I followed the recipe as is and thought it was great. My husband found it a tad salty so next time I will omit the salt. I guess it depends on the sausage you use. I used sweet Sicilian. Leftovers were amazing!
Jenn – I love so many of your recipes, delicious and simple to do! One of my fav’s is your delish recipe for the Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli. So great and appreciate!
I love this recipe. We love spicy so I use hot sausage instead of sweet. Delicious!
This recipe is superb – it is my favorite pasta recipe – great flavor and so easy to make.
This pasta is amazing. It’s one of the first (of many) recipes I tried from this site and it turned out great from the first attempt. My boyfriend and I make it probably a little too often, and it varies a little in taste depending on which of us cooks that night. We like spice so we tend to use spicy Italian sausage rather than mild, plus some extra red pepper flakes. We also just use standard parmesan for the cheese (it’s cheaper and we use it for lots of recipes) but I bet using the recommended cheese would make it even better. Great weeknight meal, especially once you have the recipe memorized like we do!
Very good and easy to make.
YUM! Everyone loved it. Will absolutely become a standard in our house.
This is a great dish. Everyone loved it and it was even better the next day. Not much left but enough for me to have a quick lunch and it was so good.
Hi Jenn,
What is the sausage brand for your Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli?
I cooked a double batch last night. My wife Cindy is out of town, so my son John and I had a great dinner…thanks to YOU!
Bill
Hi Bill, The brand is Hatfield. Glad to hear you and John had a nice dinner!
Great recipe, quick and easy. I love broccoli rabe, but my grandchildren like the taste of broccoli better. Will be making this recipe tonite!
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this recipe. It seemed so simple and rather plain at first glance but I gave it a shot based on the rave reviews. I’m glad I did! I love a recipe that includes meat, veggie and a starch so you have an entire meal in one pan. Plus it was delicious! My husband thought it was a little greasy so I may cut back on the oil next time. I thought it was great as is.
I’ve made so many of your recipes, and all are 5 stars. I have such faith in your recipes I tend to do them for parties when typically I’d stick to the tried and true- I can do this because they always work out. This one was so good and easy, I made it for my boyfriend and I as well as for my parents the very next day. Thanks for being such a great resource!! You’ve helped an avid baker with her cooking skills haha.
– Melissa
I made this for my family. I am not a meat eater but my husband and two hungry teenagers all said this was delicious and ate huge bowls of it. They said the flavor was really good and we have now all discovered how fabulous pecorino-romano cheese is! I used “hot” Italian sausage (availability), and 1/8t. red pepper flakes and 1/8t. coarse ground black pepper. Curiously my son who doesn’t like broccoli ate all of his!
Hi Jenn,
Wondering if this would work with gnocchi??
Thanks!
Sure, I think that would work!
I forgot to mention that I added 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and some chopped fresh rosemary leaves. I’m also thinking that little shells, rotelle (wagon wheels), or macaroni could be used for the pasta.
Very good….and it makes A LOT so use a big skillet! A wonderful way to add broccoli into a one dish meal.
Since it is caloric as written, I used only 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter and I drained the sausage fat. In doing so, I sacrificed some of the yummy richness and flavor, but we still enjoyed the dish and will make again. To reheat, I added a little milk before microwaving it.
Great tasting. My husband and I loved it.
Why 4 stars if it is “Great tasting” and you “loved it”? There is no place for improvement if it is “Great”.
I’ve made this recipe on several occasions and each time its a hit! it looks simple and bland but its amazing! its a fav in my household. I have even made this for friends who had just welcomed a new baby and both she and her husband loved it! tastes just as good as leftovers too. thank you!!!
I just made this for dinner tonight. It was a big hit. I used frozen broccoli as that what I had in the house.
Have just made this and so DELICIOUS! Even our 2 year old asked for seconds. I used Italian sausages out of the casings and added half a bunch of shredded kale too. So so so good! 🙂
I thought this was way too greasy. If you’re using regular sausage you don’t need to add the oil and butter. If I make it again I will use lower fat sausage and maybe 1 TBL salted butter and oil.
Super easy recipe to follow. The entire family loved this dish and I served it with a salad and warm rolls!!
Fantastic! I have been searching for oricchiette since this recipe came out but I decided to give up and use baby shell pasta. I made two versions for dinner…one as written and one omitting the meat to accommodate all guests. We all loved the flavour. I served with a salad dressed in your Italian dressing and the balsamic beets.
My whole family LOVES this. So good! Super fast, delicious meal. I’ve used pork, turkey and chicken sausage. All work well.
Hi Jenn! Any suggestions for making this ahead for a dinner party? I’d love to be able to have ready a couple of hrs beforehand and then reheat.
Hi Kerry, you could do that or even make and freeze it if you’d like. Hope everyone enjoys!
Do you think its better to reheat in the same skillet stovetop or the microwave? or maybe all the same?
Hi Kerry, I think the stovetop would be best for reheating so you can add a little liquid in case the dish has dried out a bit. Just make sure just to reheat it and not continue to cook it.
Made exactly as written and it was perfect and easy.
Made this tonight with whole-wheat orecchiette and Big Italian Salad. Very easy, very delicious, and husband approved. I made 1/2 a recipe for 2 of us and we had plenty of leftovers.
Hey there,
Just wondering, does anyone know where to get this type of sausage in Australia, in particular Brisbane? Would love to make this but have never seen sausage like this anywhere. Is there any way you could make it yourself? I have a mincer.
Thanks
Talia
Try making your own. I tried once (because I wanted it healthier/less salt) but misplaced the recipe. Here’s one close to it though I don’t remember using red wine (read the comments and tweak, if necessary)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/homemade-mild-italian-sausage-recipe.html
I am making this tonight and just realized i’m out of Sherry. It’s snowy here and i don’t feel like going out. Which is a better substitute: Marsala, White wine, or chicken stock? I’m leaning towards Marsala…
I made the oriechetti pasta tonight and it was great! i added a bit more red pepper flakes because we don’t have kids and my husband likes spice. it was really delicious and i will be making it again for sure. I’m making the Thai ginger shrimp tomorrow night.
I just finished making this tonight and it’s PERFECTION! I used rigatoni, and simmered the broccoli a little longer because I like it more on the tender side. Those are the only slight differences I made. Thank you for helping me make a fabulous dinner!
I’ve made this 3 times now & we love it! I’m typically a pasta with red gravy (tomato sauce) girl , so initially I wasn’t sure about this but 5 stars from me! Thanks for sharing! Oh! Turkey Italian Sausage works too, couldn’t tell the difference ?
Trying to use what I already have in the fridge…do you think Ground Pork would work…or should I stick with the bulk Italian sausage? I don’t want to “mess up” the recipe…
Hi Kymmie, I would stick with the sausage. Ground pork won’t be bad, but the sausage is so much more flavorful.
We are trying to do “meatless Mondays” and I am wondering if I can follow this recipe but leave out the sausage on those days. Would you proceed the same? We will, of course, try it with the sausage, too! Sounds great.
Hi Cristina, Yes, that should work. Please let me know how it turns out 🙂
Amazing! I have made this for several guests and everyone gives rave reviews. My son loves what little is left the next day.
My whole family enjoyed this recipe. Super easy and made it start to finish in less than 30 minutes. I used Al Fresco brand italian chicken sausage to lighten the recipe a bit. These sausages come in a casing, but it was easy to just cut open the casing and crumble the sausage as it cooked. Highly recommend this recipe! My young kids can’t handle much spice, so next time I may leave half of the food without the red pepper flakes, and then add extra onto our portion 🙂
My daughters (1 and 3) love this, as do I. I have used chicken sausage (not the precooked kind) as well as pork and both are excellent!
Can this be frozen?
Hi Laura, Yes that should work. Enjoy!
Prep for this one-dish meal was quick and easy, which I always appreciate! I was tempted to buy regular shell pasta, but glad I spent the extra 60 seconds searching for orecchiette. Kids were enamored with the novel shape.
My husband made orecchiette years ago with rather poor results, so since then I had avoided the little ear pasta for fear I’d once again be eating glue. Not surprisingly, this recipe changed everything. Absolutely delicious and quite easy. It’s on weekly rotation now…
Fabulous recipe! I’ve made this a few times now and we always enjoy! I also prefer to use broc rabe instead of broccoli 🙂
My family is not a big fan of broccoli so instead I added chopped onions and chopped red bell peppers, and slightly browned them. I then added spinach to the onion, pepper, and sausage mixture and wilted the spinach and then followed the rest of the recipe in regards to the broth and whatnot. Turns out this came out very tasty and was a win for my family!
I want to make this dish but have never been able to find bulk sausage. The other kind is to messy, icky. I think we live in the same general area — I’m in Potomac, MD and can’t find it at the Giants. Any suggestions?
Hi Eve, I usually find it at Giant on Traville Gateway. Whole Foods might have it as well — or you could try asking the butcher to do it for you 🙂
OMG!!! Fabulous!! Easy, crazy flavorful and something my husband doesn’t mind having as many times as I want to serve it ~ which seems to be quite often!! Since he likes his food a little spicier than I do, I simply set the red pepper flakes on the table for him to add to his liking. This is a definite winner.
My daughter who does not like broccoli gobbled this dish up. Tons of great flavor and so easy to make.
This is a very tasty dish, but I think that it could be a little zippier, so next time I will make it with hot Italian sausage instead of sweet. And/or I will add more red pepper flakes. Definitely a winner, I just have a husband and son who prefer their food a little spicy. Good recipe.
Hello, I was wondering if I could freeze this meal? Thanks a lot!!
Yep 🙂
I just made this for dinner tonight and it was wonderful! I used a about a pound of broccoli rabe and a little bit of regular broccoli as well. We like things spicy, so I more than doubled the amount of crushed red pepper. Other than that, I followed the recipe as written, and it was absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely be making this recipe often. Thanks so much!
I have made this pasta 5 times for my family and at this point I have to post a review. I have tried a ton of Jen’s recipes (and I mean a ton) and have loved every one of them (simply delicious) but this is my absolute favorite! When Jen says tested and perfected, she means it! This pasta and all of her recipes are scrumptious! Nothing has to be changed or added. I love cooking with confidence. Thanks Jen!
Thank you, Mary! So glad you are enjoying the recipes 🙂
We just had this for dinner and it was FANTASTIC! I used turkey sausage and it worked perfectly. Even my kids loved it – my four year old had two helpings!
AMAZING!! Loved this pasta. It was easy to make and delicious.
Made this for dinner tonight – my husband loved the taste, and I loved how easy it was! I use the bulk sweet Italian sausage from our local grocery store, which comes pre-seasoned…adds even more flavor to this dish. Thanks!
Made this tonight and everyone loved it! Will be adding this to our list of pasta dishes. Easy and very tasty. Will add even more broccoli next time.
Delicious pasta…big hit with my teenagers! Wondering why the calories are so high?
Hi Lisa, Glad your teenagers enjoyed it! All of the ingredients are high in calories, unfortunately 😉
Thank you for this wonderful recipe and adaptation. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will make again and again. I did not have Italian sausage so I used turkey breakfast sausage with a seasoning mix to make it “Italian”. I was glad to find the recipe for the seasoning mix as I will use it, too, again. I did add a handful of Costco tomato Rubies cut in half and added at the end. Kids are not the only ones needing more veggies, husbands often do too! 🙂
Love that idea, Joy. Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Wonderful. So easy. My entire family loved it. Can’t wait to make it again!!
This was quick, tasty and everyone in my family enjoyed it. I subbed italian chicken sausage and turned out great. Thanks!
Oustanding! I made this for dinner tonight. The result reminded me of the delicious pastas I enjoyed while working for a trendy, delicious (expensive) Italian restaurant in NYC. The kind I can’t afford to eat at anymore! I’m happy to know how to make a pasta that good at home and for friends. Thank you, Jen! I so appreciate your efforts to create, teach and publish great recipes.
Simple, speedy, tasty, kids fighting for dibs on leftovers for school lunches = success. This recipe moves into the after work meal rotation with a bullet.
I am a big fan of Lydia as well and this recipe was an excellent adaptation !
Easy as pie and full of flavour. This is going into regular rotation.