This orecchiette pasta with sausage and broccoli is simmered in a light, creamy sauce until the pasta is tender and the broccoli is bright. It’s a comforting one-pan meal ready in 30 minutes!

A bowl of orecchiette pasta coated in a creamy sauce with pieces of sausage and broccoli, served with slices of bread on the side.

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One Pan Orecchiette Pasta

Orecchiette pasta is as simple as it gets when you need a quick dinner that tastes good and fills hungry bellies! It’s as hearty as sausage rigatoni pasta and even easier than one pot chicken parmesan, because the pasta cooks right in the same pot!

Otherwise known as sausage broccoli pasta, it’s a complete meal with a meat, veggies, and, of course, orecchiette pasta in a creamy Parmesan sauce. I love to serve it with a side of bread so everyone can mop up every last bite of sauce on their plates.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • It’s a tasty 30-minute, one-pan meal made with simple ingredients.
  • It can be customized to your liking with ingredient swaps and additions.

Ingredients Notes

Bowls of broccoli, ground sausage, dry orecchiette pasta, broth, grated Parmesan, cream, garlic, onion, salt, and Italian seasoning arranged on a white countertop.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Ground Italian sausage: Use mild or hot depending on whether you want to make yours a spicier version.
  • Seasoning and aromatics: You’ll need chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning.
  • Chicken broth and heavy cream: For the base of the sauce. The chicken broth helps to cook the pasta since it’s going in dry.
  • Dry orecchiette pasta: Uncooked pasta gets tossed into the pan and cooked on the spot. No need to cook it separately.
  • Chopped broccoli: Chop into small florets so they’re not bigger than the pasta. You can use frozen broccoli too.
  • Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated from a block always tastes best!

How to Make Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage

Cook and crumble the sausage and onions in a large saucepan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Then, add the garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning, and cook for another minute.

Pour in the broth and heavy cream. Continue cooking on medium heat until it comes to a light boil.

Browned sausage and onions in a pot with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt added on top.
A pot filled with chicken broth and cream simmering with small pieces of cooked sausage before the pasta is added.

Stir in the pasta, cover with a lid, and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, stir in the broccoli, and cover to cook for another 5 minutes.

Dry orecchiette pasta poured into a pot of simmering broth and browned sausage.
Cooked orecchiette and broccoli in a pot covered with a large mound of grated Parmesan cheese before stirring.

Finally, mix in the Parmesan cheese. If there is too much liquid, simmer uncovered until it reduces. Enjoy!

A pot of creamy orecchiette pasta mixed with sausage and tender broccoli, ready to serve.

Recipe Tips

  • Brown the sausage first. Letting it caramelize before breaking it up helps to add tons of extra flavor.
  • An extra touch. Finishing the dish with some butter or a drizzle of olive oil is a great way to bring the dish together.
  • If using frozen broccoli, you can add it straight from frozen. Keep in mind, you may have extra liquid to cook off.
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan. It tastes better and melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
  • Serve with garlic bread to scoop up every last drop.
A large pot filled with orecchiette pasta mixed with browned sausage and bright green broccoli florets in a creamy sauce.

More recipes with Italian sausage include sausage tortellini soup, Italian sausage soup with spinach and pasta and creamy sausage potato soup.

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A bowl of orecchiette pasta coated in a creamy sauce with pieces of sausage and broccoli, served with slices of bread on the side.

Orecchiette Pasta

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 8
A cozy one-pan orecchiette pasta with sausage and broccoli cooked in a light, creamy Parmesan sauce. Simple, comforting, and ready in about 30 minutes.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage
  • ½ cup onion , chopped
  • 2 teaspoons garlic , minced
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 32 ounces chicken broth
  • ¼ cup heavy cream , at room temperature
  • 16 ounces dry orecchiette pasta
  • 2-3 cups chopped broccoli
  • 1/4-1/2 cup Parmesan cheese , grated

Instructions

  • Cook sausage and onion: In a large saucepan, cook 1 pound sausage and 1/2 cup chopped onion over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the sausage is crumbled and brown and the onion is softened.
  • Add spices: Add the 2 teaspoons garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add liquids and simmer: Add the 32 ounces chicken broth and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Cook on medium until it's lightly boiling.
  • Add pasta: Stir in the 16 ounces pasta, cover and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
  • Add broccoli: Stir in 2 cups chopped broccoli, recover and cook an additional 5 minutes.
  • Mix in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. If there is a lot of liquid still, simmer uncovered for 1 – 2 minutes until liquid boils off.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

If you would like to add more vegetables, add 1/2 cup bell peppers and an additional 1/2 cup onions.
Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water to loosen pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 461kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 898mg, Potassium: 381mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 277IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 73mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Variations

  • You can swap the broccoli for peas, if preferred. Or use both!
  • Sprinkle in red pepper flakes for heat. Using hot Italian sausage is also a great idea.
  • Pecorino cheese is similar to Parmesan, so feel free to make that swap.

Recipe FAQs

Can I add extra veggies to the pasta?

You can add extra veggies with the broccoli by adding an additional 1/2 cup of onions and 1/2 cup of bell peppers to the dish. Mushrooms, kale or spinach or also great options.

How to store leftovers of this orecchiette pasta recipe?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Best way to reheat this pasta dish?

It can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of cream or broth to prevent it from drying out.