Broccoli Rabe Sausage Pasta Recipe

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March 17, 2025

What is Broccoli Rabe Anyway?

Broccoli rabe (also known as rapini) is a bitter green vegetable that has a slightly bitter, earthy flavor that pairs well with Italian cuisine. It’s commonly used in recipes like pasta dishes, sautés, and sandwiches. If the bitterness is too strong for your taste, blanching it in boiling water before cooking helps mellow it out.

Ingredients Needed for Broccoli Rabe Sausage Pasta

Here’s everything you need for this recipe!

Broccoli rabe – This bitter green adds a slight bite that balances the richness of the sauce. You can also use broccolini, baby broccoli, or regular broccoli.
Orecchiette pasta – This pasta shape catches all the bits of sausage and cheese perfectly. Other small pastas like shells work, too.
Olive oil – A must for authentic Italian cuisine.
Sweet Italian sausage – Or swap it for hot Italian sausage, turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or plant-based sausage.
Garlic – Adds a rich, savory flavor to the sauce.
Red pepper flakes – Optional, but a great way to add some heat.
Chicken broth – Helps create a flavorful sauce while deglazing the pan.
Sun-dried tomatoes – Their sweetness balances the bitter broccoli rabe.
Heavy cream – Makes the sauce extra rich and creamy.
Pecorino Romano – A sharp, salty cheese that takes this dish to the next level.

Variations for Broccoli Rabe Sausage Pasta

Swap the orecchiette pasta for whole wheat pasta for extra fiber.
Use vegan sausage and plant-based heavy cream for a vegan pasta recipe.
Add a splash of white wine instead of chicken broth for extra depth.
Try parmigiano reggiano instead of pecorino romano.
For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for pasta cooking water and a squeeze of lemon juice.
If you don’t love broccoli rabe, try mustard greens, Chinese kale, or regular broccoli instead.

How to Make Broccoli Rabe Sausage Pasta

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step directions for making Broccoli Rabe Sausage Pasta:

1. Prepare the Broccoli Rabe

Wash and trim (on an angle) just the ends of the stems of the broccoli rabe. If you have thicker stalks, slice them in half lengthwise so all of your broccoli are similar in size.

A hand holding broccolini while a knife cuts it on a wooden cutting board.

Hand arranging broccolini on a round wooden cutting board. More broccolini on a separate board in the background.

Pro Tip: You can cut them into smaller bite sized pieces if desired, but I like the presentation of longer pieces.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt generously, then add broccoli rabe to a steam basket, reduce heat to a simmer, place a lid on the pot, and steam for 4-5 minutes or until tender.

Hand sprinkling salt into a pot of water.

Broccolini in a steamer basket over a pot with wooden handles on a marble countertop.

Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove broccoli rabe and place in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Broccoli florets submerged in a clear glass bowl of water on a gray checkered cloth surface.

2. Cook the Pasta

Using same pot, increase heat and bring water back to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to pasta directions for al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.

A pot of boiling water with sliced potatoes cooking inside, visible steam and bubbles rising to the surface.

Pasta being strained; water pours through a metal sieve into a glass bowl below.

3. Brown the Sausage

Add olive oil to a large heated skillet. Over medium-high heat, cook Italian Sausage, breaking up with a wooden spoon to create small crumbles.

Cooking sausages in a frying pan; one is crumbled, others are whole. A wooden spatula is visible.

Ground meat being cooked in a skillet with a wooden spatula stirring the mixture.

4. Make the Sauce

Reduce heat to medium-low and add minced garlic, cooking until fra grant, being careful not to burn. Add red pepper flakes (optional).

Ground meat cooking in a pan with minced garlic being added, stirred by a wooden spatula.

Crumbled sausage cooking in a skillet with a wooden spatula, seasoned with red chili flakes.

Add chicken broth and scrape bottom of the pan to deglaze. Increase heat and allow chicken broth to thicken a bit, stirring occassionally.

Ground meat browning in a skillet with oil, a wooden spatula visible in the foreground.

Ground meat cooking in a pan with a wooden spatula, surrounded by bubbling oil and juice.

5. Combine Everything

Reduce heat to low. Stir in sun dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and 1/4 cup of the pecorino romano cheese.

A skillet with cooked ground meat, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy sauce.

Add cooked broccoli rabe and pasta to the skillet stirring to combine and reheat the broccoli rabe and pasta.

Broccoli and ground meat cooked in a creamy sauce with tomato pieces in a non-stick pan.

A pan with cooked orecchiette pasta and broccolini on top of a quinoa mixture.

Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 pecorino romano cheese and serve warm.

A hand sprinkling cheese over a pan of pasta with broccoli and sausage.

What to Serve with an Italian Sausage Pasta

Garlic bread – A crispy, buttery side to soak up the sauce.
Simple green salad – Lighten up the meal with fresh greens and a lemon vinaigrette.
Roasted vegetables – Try asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers for extra color and nutrients.
Antipasto platter – Serve with olives, cheeses, and cured meats for an Italian-inspired meal.

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, warm in a separate pan over medium heat with a splash of olive oil or chicken broth to refresh the sauce. Avoid microwaving for too long, as it can dry out the pasta.

Can I make this ahead? You can cook the sausage meat and prep the broccoli rabe recipe ahead of time, but wait to cook the pasta until just before serving to keep it fresh.

Can I freeze this recipe? Yes! Let it cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat with a splash of chicken broth to bring the sauce back to life.

More Pasta Recipes to Try!

This Italian sausage pasta is a flavorful, satisfying meal that’s simple to make but feels fancy! Keep it in your rotation for a delicious, go-to Italian dinner that never disappoints! The printable recipe card is below. Have a wonderful day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.