Name: Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 oz uncooked Penne or pasta of your choice; 2-3 cups Broccoli Florets; 1 pound quality Italian sausage, (casings removed); 1 pound plum tomatoes, (chopped); 1 (14.5) oz jar Prego Alfredo Sauce; 2 teaspoons ground Oregano or Italian seasoning; Chopped fresh Parsley for garnish (optional); Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)

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Ready in 30 minutes or less, this delicious Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta meal makes dinner a breeze for Mom. Just five ingredients are all you need!

Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta in a cast iron pan.

This post is sponsored by Prego® Sauces. All opinions are mine alone.

My family loves sausages. When we resided in Michigan, we lived near a butcher shop, so we often got our favorite South African sausage (Boerewors) from them. Oh, how we miss that! Thankfully, here in New Haven, we found an Italian grocery that sells a variety of delicious sausages. We may no longer have our favorite boerewors, but now at least we have access to good-quality Italian sausage.

I have always made pasta with sausage because it is comfort food for us, and you simply cannot go wrong with it. For this post, there was no doubt in my mind that I would make one with Italian sausage, as I know through experience that it goes so well with a creamy pasta sauce, and for that I’m glad to have Prego Homestyle Alfredo Sauce to the rescue! This delicious sauce is full of flavor and has the perfect balance of garlic, cream, and parmesan cheese. Italian sausage and Prego Homestyle Alfredo is truly a match made in food heaven!

Whenever I make a dish for my family, I add some vegetables so it’s always a balanced meal. It’s not just tasty but also healthy! That is very important. This one-dish meal is loaded with tomatoes, broccoli, and both fresh and dried herbs – so you know you are feeding your family well. Did I mention it’s such a breeze to make? You can make the sauce at the same time the pasta water is boiling, so you save a lot of time, and everything comes together at the end.

• Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta requires only five main ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish.

• Cooking broccoli florets directly in the pasta water during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking time saves both time and reduces the number of dishes needed.

• Browning Italian sausage without added oil is possible when using quality sausage that contains enough natural fat to prevent the meat from drying out.

• Adding vegetables like broccoli and tomatoes to creamy pasta dishes creates a balanced meal that provides both nutrition and flavor in a single dish.

• The pasta and sauce components can be prepared simultaneously—while pasta water boils, the sausage sauce cooks in a separate pan—allowing both elements to finish at the same time.

Ingredients for Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta

12 oz uncooked Penne or pasta of your choice
2-3 cups Broccoli Florets
1 pound quality Italian sausage, casings removed
1 pound plum tomatoes, chopped
1 (14.5) oz jar Prego Homestyle Alfredo Sauce
2 teaspoons ground Oregano or Italian seasoning
Chopped fresh Parsley for garnish (optional)
Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)

Instructions

Here’s how you do it. Simply brown the sausages in a deep pan or large skillet. No need to use oil if the sausage has a little fat.

When the meat looks nice and brown already, add the dried oregano and tomatoes. Stir and let the tomatoes soften a little.

And then add that gloriously creamy Prego Homestyle Alfredo sauce and see how delicious it looks already at that point! Just cook until the sauce is heated through or until your pasta is ready.

Then the finale – simply mix the cooked pasta and broccoli (cooked in the same pot as the pasta), and you have a lovely, delicious pasta meal!

All that goodness in less than 30 minutes!!!

Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta in a bowl.

Yield: 6-8 Servings
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cooking Time: 15-20 Minutes
Total Time: 25-30 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use turkey or chicken sausage instead of pork Italian sausage?
Yes, but you’ll need to add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan since poultry sausage is much leaner and will stick and dry out without additional fat. The flavor will be lighter and less rich, so consider using sweet Italian turkey sausage rather than hot to maximize the Italian seasoning flavors.

How do I store leftovers, and how long will they keep?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce as it sits, so when reheating, add a splash of milk or cream (2-3 tablespoons per serving) to loosen the sauce. Reheat gently in the microwave at 50% power or in a covered skillet over low heat to prevent the Alfredo from separating.

Can I make this dish ahead for meal prep?
You can prepare the sausage and sauce mixture up to 2 days in advance and store it separately from the uncooked pasta and broccoli. When ready to serve, cook fresh pasta and broccoli, then reheat the sauce gently and combine. Fully assembled pasta doesn’t meal prep well, as the noodles become mushy and over-absorb the sauce.

What’s the best way to remove Italian sausage from casings?
Use kitchen scissors to cut a slit down the length of each sausage, then simply peel away the casing with your fingers—it comes off in one piece. Alternatively, squeeze the sausage meat out of one end like toothpaste. If the casing is stubborn, run the sausages under cold water for 30 seconds to help the casing separate from the meat.

Can I substitute fresh broccoli for frozen broccoli, and does the cooking method change?
Frozen broccoli works well and actually requires no modification to the method—add it to the pasta water during the last 3-4 minutes just like fresh. Don’t thaw it first; add it directly from frozen. Frozen broccoli may release slightly more water, so drain the pasta and broccoli extra thoroughly in the colander for 30 seconds before mixing with the sauce.