Creamy Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli

Name: Creamy Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound uncooked sweet Italian chicken or turkey sausage, casings removed; 1 medium yellow onion, medium dice; Kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 1 pound broccoli, stemmed and cut into 1-inch florets; 1 pound fusilli or other short pasta; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup tightly packed, finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces), plus more for serving

Pasta Chicken Sausage Broccoli Parmesan Dairy Onions Lunch Italian-American Weeknight Dinner Cream Cheese Fall Winter Comfort Food Poultry Easy

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6 to 8 servings Easy

Total: 45 mins

10 Ratings

Ingredients (9)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound uncooked sweet Italian chicken or turkey sausage, casings removed
1 medium yellow onion, medium dice
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound broccoli, stemmed and cut into 1-inch florets
1 pound fusilli or other short pasta
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup tightly packed, finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 ounces), plus more for serving

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Nutritional Information

Calories555
Fat20.83g
Saturated fat8.9g
Trans fat0.26g
Carbs64.9g
Fiber4.91g
Sugar4.92g
Protein27.09g
Cholesterol97.46mg
Sodium490.03mg
Nutritional Analysis per serving (6 servings) Powered by

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Easy pasta dishes are a go-to meal when it comes to weeknight dinners. This recipe starts with browned Italian chicken sausage and mixes it with tender broccoli florets and fusilli pasta. Then that’s all mixed with a simple creamy Parmesan sauce made by simmering cream with sautéed onions, grated Parmesan cheese, and a little bit of the pasta cooking water. Serve with a salad dressed with an easy Dijon vinaigrette and you’ve got a flavorful meal that doesn’t take much longer to make than heating up some store-bought sauce.

What to buy: Buy all-dark-meat or a mix of light- and dark-meat Italian chicken sausage for its higher fat content. If you use all-white-meat sausage, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan when you add the onions. Pork Italian sausage will also work in this recipe.

by Lisa Lavery

Tips for Chicken and Sausage

Tip

How to Store Chicken

Raw or cooked chicken can be stored in a refrigerator for a few days, though it’s important to prevent raw chicken juices from leaking and contaminating other foods. Ensure that chicken remains in its original packaging (which should be vacuum-sealed or tightly-wrapped) until it is ready to be cooked.

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Next: How to Freeze Chicken

Tip

How to Freeze Chicken

While freezing will make your chicken less tender and juicy, it is the perfect way to store the family-sized pack you bought at Costco last weekend. Remove the chicken from its original packaging and rewrap it tightly using aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper. Double wrap if you are planning to store the chicken for more than two months. Ground chicken can last up to three months in the freezer, while chicken pieces can last up to nine.

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Next: How to Thaw Chicken

Tip

How to Thaw Chicken

You should never thaw chicken at room temperature, as it is highly susceptible to bacteria growth. Frozen chicken should either be thawed in the microwave, in the refrigerator, or in cold water (which should be changed every 30 minutes).

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Next: How to Store Fresh Sausage

Tip

How to Store Fresh Sausage

Fresh sausage must be consumed or frozen within one to two days of purchase. They can be stored in their original packaging, but refrain from opening the package until you’re ready to cook. The easiest way to tell if a sausage has gone bad is its smell. Discard of anything that smells foul.

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Next: How to Freeze Fresh Sausage

Tip

How to Freeze Fresh Sausage

Sausage can be kept in its original packaging, but re-wrapped in aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or freezer paper to prevent freezer burn. A frozen fresh sausage’s optimal flavor will last one to two months beyond its initial freeze date, though properly packaged sausage can last significantly longer.

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Next: How to Cook Fresh Sausage

Tip

How to Cook Fresh Sausage

To cook sausage in its traditional form (whole and with casing), spray a skillet with cooking spray and set the heat to medium-high. Add the sausages and allow their sides to brown. Continuously flip the sausages with tongs until they are browned evenly. Lower heat to medium-low and carefully had half a cup of water to the skillet. Cover the sausages and allow to simmer in the water for 12 minutes or until the they are cooked through.

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Next: How to Store Chicken

Instructions

1Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until it’s no longer pink and is starting to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a large bowl and set aside.
2Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and are just starting to brown, about 6 minutes. Turn off the heat.
3When the water is boiling, add the broccoli and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the broccoli to the bowl with the sausage.
4Return the water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook according to the package directions or until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, drain, and return the pasta to the pot; set aside.
5Return the pan of onions to medium heat, add the cream, and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sausage and broccoli and stir until combined.
6Pour the broccoli-sausage mixture over the pasta, add the measured Parmesan and reserved pasta water, and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, passing more Parmesan on the side.

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