Creamy Sausage, Broccoli & Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Recipe: A Tasty Family

Creamy sausage, broccoli, and sun-dried tomato pasta revamps ordinary ingredients into a remarkable culinary experience.

Comfort food reaches new heights with this delectable combination of robust flavors and luxurious textures.

Home cooks love how quickly this dish comes together without sacrificing taste or quality.

Hearty sausage provides a rich, savory foundation that complements the bright, tangy sun-dried tomatoes perfectly.

Tender broccoli adds a fresh, nutritious element that balances the creamy sauce beautifully.

Each forkful promises a symphony of tastes that dance across your palate with impressive harmony.

Weeknight dinner solutions rarely look this elegant or taste this extraordinary.

Variations of Butternut Penne

Main Ingredients:

Protein Base: – Italian Sausage: Rich, flavorful meat that provides a hearty base for the dish. – Chicken Broth: Adds depth and moisture to enhance the overall cooking liquid.

Vegetable Mix: – Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Onion, Garlic: Colorful vegetables that bring texture, sweetness, and robust flavors to the pasta.

Pasta Component: – Pasta: Serves as the main carbohydrate base that absorbs and carries the creamy sauce.

Dairy and Cream Elements:

Cream Base: – Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious, smooth sauce that binds all ingredients together. – Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.

Seasoning and Garnish:

Finishing Touches: – Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings to balance and enhance the overall flavor profile. – Fresh Basil: Provides a bright, aromatic garnish that adds freshness to the final dish.

When Sausage Meets Broccoli and Sun-Dried Tomatoes in a Creamy Pasta

Step 1: Sizzle The Sausage Base

Brown sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is fully cooked. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to transfer meat mixture to a plate, keeping about of fat in the skillet.

Step 2: Build The Creamy Pasta Blend

• Chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Broccoli
• Pasta
• Sun-dried tomatoes

Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover with lid and simmer, stirring occasionally while quickly replacing the lid.

Step 3: Perfectly Cook The Pasta

Simmer for 7-9 minutes. If pasta isn’t tender, add more liquid and continue cooking. For crispier broccoli, add it midway through simmering.

Step 4: Create The Final Flavor Explosion

• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

Heat until ingredients are fully combined and cheese melts.

Step 5: Finish With Fresh Flair

Sprinkle fresh basil on top for a vibrant touch. Serve hot directly from the skillet for maximum deliciousness.

Why Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Shines

• Select High-Quality Sausage: Choose fresh Italian sausage with good fat content for maximum flavor and creamy texture.
• Control Liquid Carefully: Add chicken broth gradually to prevent the pasta from becoming too soupy or too dry during cooking.
• Manage Broccoli Texture: Cut broccoli florets into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent tenderness.
• Enhance Cheese Melting: Grate Parmesan cheese fresh and add it off the direct heat to prevent clumping and achieve smooth incorporation.
• Preserve Herb Freshness: Tear fresh basil leaves just before garnishing to maintain their vibrant color and release maximum aromatic oils.

What You Need for This Pasta

• Refrigeration: Store the pasta in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Seal tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Creamy sauces tend to thicken when chilled, so you might need to add a splash of chicken broth when reheating.
• Microwave Method: Transfer the pasta to a microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of chicken broth or water to prevent drying. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly. Stop once the pasta reaches steaming temperature.
• Stovetop Reheating: Pour the pasta into a skillet over medium-low heat.

Making Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

• Pair with Robust Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied red like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the savory sausage and rich cream sauce, cutting through the dish's richness with its bright acidity.
• Serve with Crisp Green Salad: Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the creamy pasta, providing a fresh contrast to the hearty main dish and cleansing the palate between bites.
• Match with Crusty Garlic Bread: Select a rustic Italian-style bread to soak up the delicious sauce, adding a crunchy texture that enhances the overall dining experience and provides an extra layer of flavor.
• Complement with Sparkling Water: Opt for a citrus-infused sparkling water to refresh the palate and cut through the rich, creamy elements of the pasta, creating a balanced and enjoyable meal.

Tips for Tomato Pasta Success

• Spicy Chorizo Pasta Fusion: Swap Italian sausage for spicy chorizo, adding a bold kick and smoky undertone to the creamy pasta dish. Include diced jalapeños for extra heat and complexity.
• Mediterranean Green Vegetable Remix: Replace broccoli with zucchini and spinach, creating a lighter version with Mediterranean herbs like oregano and thyme. Use feta cheese instead of Parmesan for a tangy Mediterranean profile.
• Chicken and Veggie Lean Version: Substitute sausage with lean ground chicken or turkey, reducing fat content while maintaining protein. Add bell peppers and mushrooms for additional nutrition and texture.
• Dairy-Free Creamy Alternative: Use coconut milk instead of heavy cream and nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan cheese. Select plant-based sausage for a completely dairy-free and vegetarian-friendly option that maintains rich, satisfying flavors.

Pairings for Butternut Penne

• Savor One-Pot Convenience: This creamy pasta dish eliminates multiple cooking vessels, making cleanup a breeze and saving precious kitchen time.
• Celebrate Bold Flavor Fusion: Sausage's rich, savory notes blend perfectly with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, creamy Parmesan, and fresh basil, creating a complex taste experience in every bite.
• Embrace Speedy Weeknight Comfort: From start to finish, this recipe takes just about 25 minutes, delivering a restaurant-quality meal without extensive preparation or complicated techniques.
• Customize with Ease: The flexible recipe allows simple ingredient swaps like different proteins, pasta shapes, or vegetables, making it adaptable to personal preferences and pantry contents.

Creamy Sausage, Broccoli, And Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Recipe

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4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy sausage, broccoli, and sun-dried tomato pasta delivers a symphony of flavors that dance across Italian-inspired comfort. Rich ingredients blend seamlessly, offering you a satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners or weekend indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• ½ pound (0.23 kilograms) Italian sausage (hot or mild)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Vegetables:

• 2 ½ cups small broccoli florets
• ½ cup diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

Base Ingredients:

• 2 cups uncooked small pasta
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream

Garnish:

• Basil for garnish

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Instructions

1. Render the Italian sausage and diced onions in a spacious skillet over medium-high flame, cooking until the meat caramelizes and loses its raw pink appearance.
2. Infuse the mixture with minced garlic, sautéing for approximately 30 seconds to release aromatic oils, then transfer the protein mixture to a separate plate using a slotted utensil while reserving about of rendered fat.
3. Pour chicken broth, heavy cream, pasta, broccoli florets, and sun-dried tomatoes into the same skillet, creating a harmonious liquid base.
4. Elevate the mixture to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce heat to low, covering with a tight-fitting lid to create a gentle steaming environment.
5. Simmer the ingredients for 7-9 minutes, periodically stirring and quickly replacing the lid to maintain consistent cooking temperature.
6. Assess pasta tenderness and broccoli texture, adding additional liquid (water or broth) if needed to achieve desired consistency.
7. Reintegrate the reserved sausage and onion mixture into the skillet, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
8. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese across the surface, seasoning with salt and black pepper to enhance the overall taste profile.
9. Warm the dish thoroughly, ensuring cheese melts and ingredients meld together seamlessly.
10. Finish by scattering fresh basil leaves on top for a vibrant garnish and aromatic elevation, then serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Versatile One-Pot Wonder: This creamy pasta dish combines hearty sausage, tender broccoli, and rich sun-dried tomatoes in a single skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
• Quick Weeknight Meal Solution: From start to finish, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy families craving a satisfying dinner.
• Liquid Adjustment Tip: Keep extra chicken broth nearby to prevent pasta from sticking or becoming too dry during the simmering process.
• Broccoli Texture Control: Add broccoli midway through cooking to maintain its crisp texture and vibrant green color, preventing overcooking.
• Cheese Melting Secret: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese last and stir quickly to ensure smooth, even melting without creating clumpy spots.
• Flexible Ingredient Swaps: Easily substitute Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken, and swap broccoli for other vegetables like spinach or asparagus.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 625 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 47 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 23 g
• Cholesterol: 140 mg