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.

Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta

Name: Chicken Sausage and Broccolini Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 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

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

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Instructions

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.
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.
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.
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