Creamy Orecchiette Pasta with Italian Sausage and Broccolini

Little ear pasta, also known as orecchiette, in a creamy sauce with Italian sausage and broccolini. Serve with a salad and garlic bread for a hearty Puglia-style supper. Serve with salad, bread, and your favorite Italian red wine.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 840 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 ½ cups half-and-half
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• ¼ cup diced green bell pepper
• ½ cup diced green onion
• 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
• 1 bunch broccolini, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 6 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and orecchiette and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Meanwhile, heat a large (10-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard most of the fat. Transfer cooked sausage to a bowl and return skillet to medium-high heat.

Step 3

Add bell pepper and green onion to the skillet. Saute until white of onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add broccolini and garlic; saute until broccolini is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes more. Set vegetables aside.

Step 4

Melt butter in a larger skillet over medium heat. Add half-and-half and Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Add cream cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes more.

Step 5

Add cooked sausage and vegetables to the skillet. Stir in drained pasta. Serve immediately.