Creamy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pasta

Name: Creamy Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 15 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 cup butter; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 3 quarts heavy whipping cream; 6 cups shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 lbs ground Italian sausage; 2 lbs broccoli rabe, chopped; salt, to taste; 1 tsp red pepper flakes; 2 lbs penne pasta, cooked; Shredded Parmesan cheese, for garnish

This creamy sausage and broccoli rabe pasta combines browned Italian sausage with tender broccoli rabe in a rich, from-scratch Parmesan cream sauce. The standout is the homemade béchamel-based sauce that coats every strand, delivering restaurant-quality comfort in one skillet.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Creamy pasta 🏷️Sausage pasta 🏷️Broccoli rabe 🏷️Penne Parmesan

🏷️

🏷️Cheese sauce

-0:00

oldscoolkevmoonTikTok

Total

40 min

Servings

15

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by oldscoolkevmo

-0:00

oldscoolkevmoonTikTok

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 quarts heavy whipping cream
6 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
2 lbs ground Italian sausage
2 lbs broccoli rabe, chopped
salt, to taste
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 lbs penne pasta, cooked
Shredded Parmesan cheese, for garnishoptional

12 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter.
2
Whisk in the flour to create a roux and cook for 1-2 minutes.
3
Gradually whisk in the heavy whipping cream until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken.
4
Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded and grated Parmesan cheese in batches until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
5
Season the cheese sauce with salt to taste, then set aside.
6
In a separate large, wide pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
7
Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.
8
Add the chopped broccoli rabe to the pan with the sausage.
9
Season with salt and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli rabe is tender-crisp.
10
Pour the prepared cheese sauce over the sausage and broccoli rabe mixture and stir to combine.
11
Add the cooked penne pasta to the pan.
12
Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
13
Serve immediately, garnished with additional shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the sausage thoroughly over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, to build flavor and render fat for the sauce.
Whisk the flour into melted butter slowly and cook for 1–2 minutes before adding cream to eliminate raw flour taste and prevent lumps.
Reserve 1–2 cups of starchy pasta water before draining; use it to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
Add Parmesan off heat or at very low heat to prevent clumping; stir gently and taste before adding all called for.

Substitutions

Heavy whipping cream → half-and-half or whole milk (sauce will be thinner; use slightly less flour and butter)
All-purpose flour → cornstarch at 1:1 ratio for a gluten-free option (mix with cold water first to avoid lumps)
Broccoli rabe → broccoli, kale, or escarole (adjust cooking time for firmness preference)
Ground Italian sausage → bulk Italian sausage removed from casings, or sliced Italian sausage links

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring in a splash of cream or milk to restore sauce consistency.

Common Questions

Can I make the cream sauce ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the sauce up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat gently over low heat, stirring occasionally and adding a splash of cream or pasta water if it thickens too much.

What type of Italian sausage works best?

Use Italian sausage with a good fat content (not extra-lean) for richness. Hot or mild are both fine—choose based on your spice preference.

How do I prevent the cream sauce from breaking?

Keep heat at medium or medium-low, stir frequently, and avoid boiling once cream is added. Add pasta water gradually to reach your desired consistency.