Bow Tie Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli

This spicy Bow Tie Pasta with Sausage is made using a simple pasta formula that you can use to create your own pasta dishes in the future!

Creating This Sausage and Broccoli Pasta Recipe

Want to know a secret? I make up a lot of my pasta dishes with a basic 3-2-1 formula.

It’s probably not a new idea, but it definitely helps me throw different dishes together using what I’ve got on hand. I use this formula a lot.

Sometimes when I’m really at a loss with what to make for dinner, especially when I haven’t gone grocery shopping, and I’m trying to put a mish-mash of ingredients together for a respectable meal it can be really helpful.

These dishes come together fast because they’re all basic ingredients. Sure you can jazz it up with a little something extra special or make a sauce if you want to. It just gives me a starting place.

Ready for the formula? It’s pretty simple!

I made this Spicy Bow Tie Pasta with Broccoli and Sausage on one of those exasperated evenings — you know the kind I’m talking about.

The only fresh vegetable in sight was 1 crown of broccoli. I knew that wasn’t enough to do a lot with, so I added the sundried tomatoes to get a more significant serving of vegetables.

I grabbed 2 links of sausage from the freezer. I always have onion and garlic on hand. And suddenly we were getting somewhere, and it sure wasn’t going to be take-out pizza.

I cooked up the entire meal in less than 30 minutes while I talked to my BFF on the phone. We had started the conversation with me complaining about not knowing what to make for dinner and ended it with my proclamation of dinner being done.

HOLY COW, she says! I secretly smiled, proud at my accomplishment. I can indeed make dinner out of “nothing.” And it was most definitely better than “good.”

Ingredients for Bow Tie Pasta with Sausage

To make the broccoli and Italian sausage bowtie pasta, you’ll need just a handful of ingredients.

• Broccoli florets
• Sun-dried tomatoes soaked in oil
• Mild Italian sausage
• Red onion
• Garlic
• White wine
• Red pepper flakes
• Bow tie pasta

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Bow Tie Pasta with Sausage

This Italian sausage and broccoli pasta comes together in less than 20 minutes. Here’s an overview of how it’s prepared:

1. In a large saute pan, drizzle a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Heat over medium-high heat. 
2. Add the sausage, cooking until browned on all sides. Remove sausage and slice into rounds. Return to pan. 
3. Add onion to the sausage and saute until the onion is tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more.
4. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, making sure to scrape up all the browned bits. 
5. Stir in the tomatoes, pasta, and broccoli. 
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper and sprinkle with crushed red pepper. 
7. Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Can the Wine Be Omitted?

Yes, you may omit the white wine and use chicken or vegetable broth instead. Just note that the pasta will taste less rich if you omit the wine.

Can This Recipe Be Made Gluten-Free?

Yes, use your favorite gluten-free pasta (we like the Jovial brand or the Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Fusilli Pasta) and check that your Italian sausage is certified gluten-free.

Tips for Making Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta

• When I cook the pasta, I add the broccoli to the pot for the last 2 minutes to cook it. This saves me from having to dirty another pot.
• Cook the pasta just until al dente for the best texture.
• Feel free to use hot Italian sausage or add extra red pepper flakes to amp up the heat in this sausage and broccoli pasta.

What Readers Are Saying

“Made this tonight and we loved it! Super delicious!” — Cami

“Made this tonight for my boyfriend, who is very picky to say the least. He loved it, which is a true testament to its deliciousness!” — Lara

“I just made this tonight with spicy, cajun sausages. GREAT. I really thought my husband was going to lick the bowl.” — Jane

More Easy Pasta Dinners:

This Slow Roasted Tomato Pasta recipe is super simple, but bursting with fresh flavors. The basil and roasted tomatoes pair perfectly together!

One Skillet Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is the perfect, easy comforting pasta dish. Baking it in a single skillet makes for quick preparation and very minimal clean up.

This super simple One-Pot Pasta features fresh spinach and sun dried tomatoes for a pop of flavor and color. 

This Brown Butter and Sage Gnocchi made from scratch, sautéed with a little butter and sage, is pure comfort food! 

A simple, just-spicy-enough Arrabbiata Sauce you can make from pantry ingredients. Serve it with anything — chicken, sausages, pasta, even your morning eggs!

This Shrimp Scampi with Tomatoes comes together in just 20 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get food on the table quickly.

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