Chicken sausage broccolini pasta is a quick, delicious dinner idea, ready in just 30 minutes with only 7 simple ingredients.

This pasta dish is a breeze to whip up with the perfect balance of flavors, from savory chicken sausage to tender broccolini, zesty lemon juice, garlic, parmesan cheese, and wholesome whole-wheat pasta.

With so few ingredients, just like our cajun pasta with sausage, and a quick cook time, you’ll have a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in no time!

It’s perfect for family dinners and pairs well with a house salad or garlic sourdough bread. This sausage pasta recipe will become your new go-to, offering versatility for new and exciting variations every time.

Love easy pasta recipes? Try creamy penne primavera with the best sauce or lemon sausage pasta with few ingredients.

Reasons to Love This Recipe

  • Easy, balanced meal – This chicken sausage pasta recipe provides a balanced and satisfying meal combining protein, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • 7-ingredient chicken sausage pasta – Cooking meals with only a handful of ingredients and achieving mouthwatering flavors is always a huge win!
  • Perfect for leftovers and meal prep – Warm up leftovers for a quick lunch or divide them into individual containers for easy meals during the week! 
ingredients for pasta with chicken sausage

Ingredients

This chicken sausage and broccoli pasta skillet is a delicious and healthy dish combining savory and fresh flavors in a delicious sauce. You’ll also reserve a cup of starchy pasta water to create the sauce!

  • Chicken sausage: Use your favorite variety of cooked chicken sausage, whether it’s spicy or mild. I use organic spicy chicken sausage.
  • Broccolini: Trim the broccolini and coarsely chop it into small bite-sized pieces, discarding the tough stems.
  • Short pasta: Choose a short shape like penne, fusilli, or orecchiette made from whole wheat for added fiber and nutrients.
  • Garlic: You’ll need a few cloves of garlic minced to add flavor to the dish.
  • Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice will add a bright, citrusy flavor to the pasta.
  • Oil: Use olive oil to brown the sausage and sauté the garlic.
  • Parmesan: Grated parmesan cheese will add a salty, nutty flavor to the pasta.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Chicken Sausage Pasta

To create this dish in under 30 minutes, cook the pasta and chicken sausage with broccolini in their pots/pans. Doing so ensures that the pasta stays perfectly al dente, ready to be tossed into the skillet for the final step.

  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drop the broccolini to blanch quickly with the pasta in the last few minutes. Drain the pasta and veggie, reserving about a cup of pasta water to create the sauce.
  • Heat the oil in a skillet to brown the chicken sausage, then set it to the side. Add the remaining oil to saute the garlic until fragrant, stirring up all the leftover bits from the bottom of the pan. 
  • After the garlic is fragrant, add the pasta, broccolini, and cooked sausage to the pan with half the reserved pasta water. Add your seasonings to taste.
  • Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and sprinkle in the parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine, and it’s ready to serve! Add a little extra parmesan on top for cheesier pasta.

Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta - only 7 simple and good ingredients to make this family approved meal under 30 minutes! Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta - only 7 simple and good ingredients to make this family approved meal under 30 minutes!

Recipe Tips + Substitutions

Here are a few tips to help you make the best chicken sausage pasta with broccolini.

  • Avoid overcooking the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, follow the cooking instructions on the package carefully, and check it frequently for doneness.
  • Experiment with different spices and herbs. Add crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, or fresh herbs like parsley or basil to the skillet for extra flavor.
  • Adjust the seasonings. Taste the pasta before serving and adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to suit your preferences. You may also enjoy fresh lemon zest if you love the lemon factor.
  • Serve immediately. For the best texture and flavor, serve the pasta immediately after tossing it with the sauce. If you need to reheat leftovers, add a splash of water or broth to the skillet to help loosen the sauce.
  • Add more vegetables. While broccolini adds a delicate flavor, you can substitute it with other vegetables like regular broccoli, asparagus, spinach, or snap peas. You can also try it with diced tomatoes for a tomato-based sauce.

Variations

Try experimenting with different vegetables, herbs, spices, and pasta to create your own unique chicken sausage pasta to fit into your diet.

  • Make creamy chicken sausage and broccoli pasta. Add a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of cream cheese to the skillet for a creamier, more decadent sauce.
  • Vegetarian sausage pasta. Substitute the chicken sausage with plant-based sausage or crumbled tempeh to make this dish vegetarian-friendly.
  • Low-carb chicken sausage pasta. Substitute the whole wheat pasta with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash for a low-carb option.

If you love this recipe, you may also enjoy Roasted Vegetable Pasta Primavera!

broccolini pasta

What to Serve With Pasta?

Add a small side salad or serve with bread. Here are a few of my favorites:

Storage

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, place in a pot or skillet with a splash of water until warmed. 

Freeze: After you make the sausage pasta, let it cool completely, then transfer it to freezable containers and freeze for up to 3 months.

FAQs

Can I use broccoli instead of broccolini?

Yes, you can use broccoli instead of broccolini, but broccoli takes longer to cook, so adjust the cooking time. Cut into small florets, cook until tender, then add to the pasta and sausage mixture.

Can I use ground chicken sausage?

Ground chicken sausage is another option. Remove the casing and crumble it in the hot pan until it’s browned and cooked. Then, you can either remove the sausage from the pan to cook the garlic separately or push it to one side and cook the garlic alongside it.

Do you have to remove the casing from the chicken sausage?

It depends on how you’re using it. If eating whole or cutting into slices, removing the casing is unnecessary. If crumbling, then do remove it.

More Pasta Dinner Recipes

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Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta - only 7 simple and good ingredients to make this family approved meal under 30 minutes!

Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta

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  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

Description

Chicken sausage, tender broccolini, and whole wheat pasta make a simple and healthy weeknight dinner under 30 minutes! 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 12 oz. whole wheat short cut pasta, such as penne
  • 1 lb. broccolini, trimmed and coarsely chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 12 oz. hot Italian or sweet Italian chicken sausage, sliced on diagonal
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed with side of knife and chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving, if desired
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water (about 3 quarts) to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 7 minutes. Add broccolini to the same pot, and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes longer or until the pasta and broccolini are tender. Drain pasta mixture, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
  2. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and swirl to coat. Add sausage and cook until browned, about 6 minutes, then remove from the pan.
  3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and cook garlic until fragrant. Add cooked pasta, broccolini, and sausage to the pan. Stir in about 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water and mix well adding more if needed. Taste for salt and pepper, and adjust as needed.
  4. Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • Pasta: Feel free to use your favorite short-cut pasta, such as rigatoni, farfalle, or orecchiette. I like using whole-wheat pasta but white pasta is fine too.
  • Add extra zing: Stir in zest of one whole lemon for extra flavor.
  • Make it gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free pasta and sausage.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 435
  • Sugar: 4.3 g
  • Sodium: 809.1 mg
  • Fat: 17.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 53.5 g
  • Protein: 21 g
  • Cholesterol: 86.4 mg

Recipe originally published May 2017.