Orecchiette Pasta with Turkey Sausage Meatballs & Broccolini
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Sweet Dash of Sass
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Pasta
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- Kosher Salt
- 12 oz. Orecchiette Pasta
- 2 bunches broccolini, cut into bite-size pieces
- 8 oz. sweet Italian Turkey Sausage, casing removed
- ¼ cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling
- 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 large egg
- Freshly Ground Pepper
- ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook per pasta package directions.
- Add broccolini during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccolini.
- Meanwhile, roll the sausage meat into about 20 small meatballs.
- Heat 1 TBSP olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Pour off any drippings from the skillet, then add the remaining 3 TBSP olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and ½ tsp salt.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring, 1 minute.
- Add the pasta, broccolini, and meatballs. Whisk the egg with the reserved cooking water in a small bowl, then add to the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Divide the pasta among bowls. Sprinkle with the cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
Tip #1: Don’t have Broccolini? You can substitute regular broccoli!
Tip #2: Not a fan of Turkey Sausage? You can substitute 1 lb. chicken breast / tenderloins. Cut into bite size pieces. Take the recipe one step further by cooking up 4 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Then, cook the chicken breast in some of the drippings/olive oil.
I could seriously go for some of that right now. It looks SO delicious!
Made this week with chicken and bacon and turned out great! Tasted great heated up for leftovers during week.