Rustic Italian Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Traditional orecchiette pasta tossed with savory Italian sausage and slightly bitter broccoli rabe for a balanced and hearty meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs orecchiette pasta, Italian sausage, broccoli rabe for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz orecchiette pasta
12 oz, casings removed Italian sausage
1 bunch (about 8 oz), trimmed and chopped broccoli rabe
4, thinly sliced garlic cloves
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup, freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp, divided salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water (1 tsp salt) to a boil. Add 12 oz orecchiette pasta and cook for 9-11 minutes until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage (casings removed) and break it up with a spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Step 3: Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes to the sausage and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Add 1 bunch chopped broccoli rabe to the skillet with 1/2 tsp salt. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring, until the greens are tender and bright green.
Step 5: Toss the drained pasta into the skillet with the sausage and broccoli rabe mixture. Add reserved 1/2 cup pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Step 6: Season with remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.