Sausage Broccoli Pasta (One Pot)

This Sausage Broccoli Pasta is a flavorful one pot meal! It's made with orzo pasta, ground Italian sausage, broccoli, and sun dried tomatoes.

When it comes to weeknight dinners, it doesn't get any better than one pot meals. This Broccoli Sausage Pasta is great when you want a meal that's comforting and don't want to spend all evening in the kitchen.

I've really come to appreciate one pot meals over the past couple of years, mostly because I hate doing dishes. There's something so satisfying about being able to cook an entire meal in one skillet and as an added bonus it's totally delicious.

One of my favorite ingredients when it comes to one pot cooking is orzo pasta. Orzo is a short pasta that cooks quickly and picks up whatever flavor is added to it, making it incredibly versatile in terms of flavor and technique.

This recipe is made with orzo pasta that's simmered in a skillet on the stove top along with garlic and shallots, ground Italian sausage, broccoli, sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and a savory tomato-based sauce.

It's perfect garnished with some fresh basil or parsley to brighten the whole thing up. This dish only takes a little more than 30 minutes to prepare, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.

Jump to:

• Is Orzo A Pasta Or Rice?
• How To Add Flavor To Orzo Pasta
• Ingredients For Sausage Broccoli Pasta
• Which Sausage Is Best For This Pasta?
• How To Make Sausage Broccoli Pasta
• What Are Sun Dried Tomatoes?
• How Long Does Orzo Pasta Take To Cook?
• What To Serve With Sausage Broccoli Pasta
• How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Sausage Broccoli Pasta (One Pot)

Is Orzo A Pasta Or Rice?

Orzo is a type of pasta that is shaped like a grain of rice. It's made from flour just like any other pasta, even though its shape might suggest otherwise.

Orzo is often used in Mediterranean and Italian cuisines. It's perfect added to light pasta dishes, salads, soups, and meals like these Greek Stuffed Peppers.

It looks like Arborio rice but the two are not the same thing. Arborio rice is actually a variety of rice and is used to make risotto. Arborio rice is gluten free whereas orzo pasta is not.

To make this recipe gluten free, I opted to use gluten free orzo pasta. Gluten free orzo pasta can be found in specialty or health food grocery stores, or is available for purchase online.

Feel free to use regular orzo if gluten is not an issue for you. Regular orzo can be found in the pasta aisle of your local grocery store.

How To Add Flavor To Orzo Pasta

As mentioned, orzo pasta is one of those ingredients that tends to pick up the flavor of whatever is added to it. Orzo pairs well with Italian and Mediterranean ingredients and flavors.

To give this pasta dish great Italian flavor, the orzo is paired with garlic and shallots (shallots have a milder, nuttier flavor than onions), Italian sausage, sun dried tomatoes, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil.

Orzo tastes great with all types of fresh veggies, in addition to add-ins like marinated artichokes, olives, capers, and roasted red peppers.

The fact that the orzo pasta is cooked in the sauce gives it even more flavor.

Ingredients For Sausage Broccoli Pasta

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 2 Shallots (or one small onion)
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 lb. Ground Italian Sausage (mild or spicy)
• 4 cups Broccoli Florets
• 12 oz. Gluten Free Orzo Pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free)
• 3 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 1 ½ cups Crushed Tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
• ½ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
• ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning
• ¼ tsp. Red Chili Flakes (optional)
• ½ tsp. each of Kosher Salt and Pepper
• ½ cup Parmesan or Asiago Cheese (grated) (plus more for garnish)
• Fresh Basil or Parsley for garnish (optional)

Which Sausage Is Best For This Pasta?

This pasta is made with ground Italian pork sausage. You can use either mild or spicy Italian sausage, depending on your preferred spice level.

The pork sausage provides this dish with great flavor. You can use mild or Italian ground chicken or turkey sausage if you prefer to lighten it up a bit.

It's important to cook the sausage before adding it to the pasta, so the first step is to sauté it in a skillet with some olive oil.

The cooked sausage is then removed and set aside and the minced garlic and shallots are sauteed in the skillet along with the fat from the sausage.

Make sure to use a large skillet when making this pasta so that everything fits. A 12-inch skillet works great for this pasta.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 2 shallots. You can sub 1 small onion (any color) in place of the shallots if you prefer.
2. Place a large skillet on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
3. Once heated, add 1 lb. of ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy) to the skillet.
4. Sauté the sausage for 8-10 minutes or until it is fully cooked, breaking it apart with a wooden spatula as it cooks.
5. Once the sausage is fully cooked, remove it from the skillet and set aside, leaving the fat and oil in the skillet.
6. Add the minced garlic and shallots (or onions) and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

How To Make Sausage Broccoli Pasta

The next step is to add the broccoli florets to the skillet to sauté along with the garlic and shallots.

The orzo pasta is then added to the skillet along with some chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and spices. The pasta and broccoli are cooked in the sauce and finish cooking at the same time.

This recipe calls for crushed tomatoes, but tomato sauce may be used instead. It should be noted that both crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce are measured with dry measuring cups.

The chicken broth is measured with a liquid measuring cup.

1. Cut 1 large head of broccoli into florets (yields 4 heaping cups of broccoli florets).
2. Add the broccoli florets to the skillet along with ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Sauté the broccoli florets for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
3. Add 12 oz. of gluten free orzo pasta to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
4. Pour 3 cups of low sodium chicken broth into the skillet and add 1 ½ cups of crushed tomatoes.
5. Add ½ tsp. Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp. red chili flakes (optional), and another ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper to the skillet and stir until completely combined.
6. Bring the pasta to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer or low boil. Cook for 8-10 minutes on a low boil, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the skillet (this is more important toward the end of the cooking process).
7. The pasta will plump up and absorb the liquids and the broccoli will soften slightly. Cook the pasta just until al dente (overcooking it will cause the pasta to become mushy) and most of the liquid is absorbed.

Keep in mind that cooking times may vary slightly.

What Are Sun Dried Tomatoes?

Sun dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that have lost most of their water content after they have dried in the sun or in an oven.

The process of drying them helps to concentrate their natural sweetness, giving them a robust flavor. They're slightly sweet and tangy. Sun dried tomatoes are often packed in olive oil, which helps to preserve them.

You can find them in the pasta aisle or the Italian or Mediterranean foods section of your local grocery store.

The sun dried tomatoes give a great pop of flavor to this Sausage Broccoli Pasta. They add a bright sweetness and tangy flavor that helps to balance out the richness of the sausage.

How Long Does Orzo Pasta Take To Cook?

Orzo pasta only takes about 10 minutes to cook.

It's very important to keep an eye on the pasta and stir it often as it's cooking in order to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.

When it comes to gluten free pasta, it's important to cook just until al dente. Gluten free pasta can overcook easily, which creates a gummy texture, so make sure to keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks in the skillet.

The orzo will plump up and absorb the liquid and the texture of the pasta will become creamy as it cooks. It's best to cook the pasta on medium-low heat and stir it often with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Once the pasta is al dente and the broccoli softened, but not mushy, it's time to add the rest of the ingredients.

1. Grate ½ cup of Parmesan or Asiago cheese.
2. Drain ½ cup of sun dried tomatoes.
3. Add the cooked sausage back into the skillet along with the ½ cup each of sun dried tomatoes and grated cheese. Stir all of these ingredients together until completely combined.
4. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, or until all of the ingredients are warmed through.

The pasta should be fully cooked, the broccoli tender, but not mushy, and the cheese melted when the dish is finished.

What To Serve With Sausage Broccoli Pasta

This pasta is hearty and can definitely be served on its own. I love to garnish it with some fresh basil or parsley for extra color and flavor. Feel free to grate some extra Parmesan or Asiago cheese on top before serving as well.

A decadent pasta dish like this one is perfect served with a side salad made with fresh greens or a Caesar salad. The bitterness of the greens and tangy flavor of a salad dressing helps to balance the richness of the sausage and pasta.

This Italian green bean salad or marinated tomato salad both pair nicely with pasta dishes like this one.

This grilled mushroom tapenade, Kalamata olive tapenade, or Italian white bean dip make a great appetizer for this pasta.

A side dish like these garlic roasted green beans or Parmesan roasted cauliflower is also a tasty option.

Love pasta? Check out these recipes!

• Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Chicken Sausage Spaghetti
• Cauliflower Tomato Sausage Pasta
• Leek Pancetta Pasta
• Vegetarian Mediterranean Pasta
• Kale Pancetta Pasta
• Chicken Marsala Pasta

How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Any leftovers should last 2-3 days stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Make sure to allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this pasta. It's best enjoyed right away or within a few days.

Love one pot meals? Check out these recipes!

• Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
• Cajun Chicken Orzo
• Vegetable Pesto Orzo
• One Pot Veggie Pasta
• Skillet Vegetable Lasagna
• Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes

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