Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

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Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta made with only five ingredients is a healthy weeknight dinner that is quick and easy to prepare. This simple pasta dish is loaded with garlic, turkey sausage, broccoli, and Parmesan cheese and still only has 360 calories per serving.

364 CAL 49g CARBS 15g FAT 27g PROTEIN
2 Comments

This five ingredient Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta will get even the pickiest eaters to eat their broccoli. Get a complete meal with one lovely dish of pasta including whole grains, protein, and veggies. This One Pot Caprese Pasta and Chicken Broccoli Pasta are also always in our meal plan rotation.

This simple Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta would never work without a delicious sausage. Sausage is one of my favorite ingredients to use since it has so much flavor on its own. It means that you don't have to worry about adding lots of spices or extra fat to give your dish flavor. And since sausage pairs perfectly with pasta, one of my go-to pasta dishes is this simple one, pairing turkey sausage, broccoli, and a touch of Parmesan cheese.

The sausage and garlic give the dish plenty of flavor and the Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water create a creamy, light sauce. That's another good trick. Saving some starchy cooking liquid from the pasta is a great way to create a low-calorie creamy sauce without needing tons of cheese or heavy cream. As long as there is some fat in the dish, it will combine with the fat and emulsify to create a creamy sauce. Genius. In this dish, it combines with the garlicky olive oil, fat from the sausage, and cheese to create a dreamy garlicky cream sauce without using any cream at all.

Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta with parmesan cheese on a white plate with a fork.

Now let's talk veggies. I almost always use broccoli but almost any veggie you have on hand will work. I have made it with broccolini, cauliflower, asparagus, and zucchini with success. Sometimes I finish it with some fresh cherry tomatoes when they are in season. In winter months, you can use drained canned tomatoes. The canned fire roasted tomatoes add a really nice flavor.

Can I make a low carb or keto version of this Turkey Sausage Pasta with Broccoli?

Looking for a low carb version? You can substitute in spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for the regular pasta. However since you don't have the starchy water, you want to get the same creamy sauce. It will still taste great, just won't turn out exactly the same. To create a creamy sauce you could either add some cream cheese or heavy cream. You could also try this lighter version that uses spaghetti squash and is topped with walnuts, fresh herbs, and lemon juice. It's delicious.

How can I lighten up this Sausage Broccoli Pasta?

There are a few different ways to lighten up this dish. The first is to substitute all or some of the noodles for a vegetable noodle like zucchini or spaghetti squash. I like spaghetti squash better in this dish since there is already a green veggie. You can also use 99% lean ground turkey instead of the sausage. If you do go this route, I would recommend seasoning the turkey well so you don't miss out on all the extra flavor. This Italian sausage seasoning recipe is great to add to the meat. 

How could I make this into a vegetarian dish?

There are lots of great vegetarian sausage options on the market.  You can either use a sausage link and slice it or look for a vegetarian sausage crumble, which is a little harder to find. You can also use the standard vegetarian crumble mixture and add the Italian seasoning mentioned above. If you don't want to use an alternative meat product, canned white beans or chickpeas are both delicious. Again just make sure to add extra seasoning so there is still plenty of flavor. 

Healthy Turkey Sausage Pasta with broccoli on a plate with a gray background.

What's the healthiest pasta? Should I choose whole grain, high fiber, quinoa or rice based?

This is a tough question to answer and it really depends on your dietary needs and honestly on taste. In my opinion, there are some great healthier pasta options out there that use ancient grains or legumes, but none taste the same as traditional pasta. Since my family doesn't love alternative pasta, I almost always reach for either a whole grain pasta or a high fiber pasta. Both of these pass the husband and kid test and are healthier than a standard white pasta. Plus since I am almost always pairing the pasta with something healthy, this is a great choice for our family.

Next comes pasta made with quinoa, brown rice, beans, or lentils.  Many experts believe these are healthier than a wheat-based pasta. Personally, I like this chickpea option, this lentil option, and this brown rice pasta. My toddler will eat all three of these options happily. One key step is not overcooking these types of pasta since they become gummy quickly. I also find the leftovers don't keep as well so I try to only make enough for one meal when I use these pasta options.

The Recipe
Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

364 CAL 49g CARBS 15g FAT 27g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 20 Min
TOTAL TIME: 25 Min
2 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 3/4 lb. lean ground turkey sausage
  • 8 oz. high fiber pasta
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan
  • Salt and pepper

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Instructions

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1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli. Drain and set aside. Reserve 1/2 cup of cooking liquid.

2

Meanwhile, brown the sausage in a skillet under no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add some red pepper flakes here as well if you like things spicy. Stir in pasta, broccoli, and Parmesan cheese. Add the pasta water a few tablespoons at a time, stirring until a thin sauce forms. Serve with fresh lemon.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 364
Calories from Fat 133
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g
23%
Saturated Fat 3g
14%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 69mg
23%
Sodium 647mg
28%
Total Carbohydrate 49g
16%
Dietary Fiber 8g
32%
Sugars 3g
Protein 27g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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2 Comments
On Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
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Tee
March 1, 2023 - 20:25
Add a Rating:
5
I thought it had great flavor. You definitely have to stir hot pasta water into the dish to melt the cheese. The more you stir the creamier it gets. I used tons of garlic! So easy. Will make over and over.
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TiffaBlake Cook
June 21, 2017 - 17:17
Add a Rating:
4
It is good but not for people who need a lot of flavor. I like light flavor but my husband does not. I thought it was good.
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