Zesty One-Pot Lemony Pasta Sausage Broccoli Rabe Burrata Recipe

My weekend dinner game changed when I discovered this incredible one-pot lemony pasta featuring bold sausage and tender greens.

Culinary magic happens when simple ingredients combine in unexpected ways.

Broccoli rabe brings a delightful bitter punch that perfectly balances the rich, spicy sausage.

Creamy burrata melts luxuriously across the surface, creating irresistible texture and depth.

Weeknight cooking just got a serious upgrade with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.

Watching friends devour this dish feels like winning a secret cooking challenge.

One-Pot Pasta With Burrata That’s Rich, Lemony, and Easy

• Quickly Customize Meal Prep: This one-pot wonder allows effortless cooking with minimal cleanup, perfect for busy weeknights when time is scarce.
• Flavor-Packed Convenience: Combining sausage, broccoli rabe, and burrata creates a restaurant-quality dish that feels gourmet yet simple to prepare in just 30 minutes.
• Adaptable Crowd-Pleaser: The recipe easily accommodates dietary preferences by swapping sausage types or using vegetarian alternatives, making it versatile for different family members and guests.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with protein from sausage, greens from broccoli rabe, and creamy burrata, this pasta delivers a balanced meal with complex, satisfying flavors in every bite.

One-Pot Lemony Pasta with Sausage and Burrata Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

• Pasta: Hearty base for the dish, choose a shape that holds sauce well like penne or rigatoni.
• Broccoli Rabe: Slightly bitter green that adds texture and nutrition, select fresh and crisp.

• Sausage, Fennel: Savory meat with aromatic vegetable that creates deep flavor profile, choose spicy Italian sausage for extra kick.

• Burrata, Parmesan Cheese: Creamy cheese for luxurious finish and salty cheese for depth, use fresh high-quality versions.

Supporting Ingredients:

• Garlic, Lemon Zest, Lemon Juice: Bright citrus and pungent aromatics that enhance overall taste, select fresh lemons.
• Crushed Red Pepper: Adds gentle heat and complexity, adjust amount based on spice preference.

• Fresh Basil Leaves, Fennel Fronds: Fragrant herbs that provide fresh garnish and subtle flavor, choose bright green leaves.

• Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing and building sauce base, use extra virgin for best flavor.
• Salt: Crucial for seasoning throughout cooking process, use kosher or sea salt.
• Pasta Water: Starchy liquid that helps create silky sauce consistency, always reserve before draining.

Cooking Lemony Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Step 1: Boil Pasta and Greens

Grab a large pot and fill it with salted water.

Bring the water to a rolling boil.

Toss in your pasta and cook until it reaches that perfect al dente texture.

Right before the pasta finishes cooking, add the broccoli rabe to the boiling water.

This quick blanch will soften the greens and infuse them with flavor.

Before draining, scoop out a cup of the starchy cooking water – this liquid gold will help create a silky sauce later.

Drain the pasta and greens together in a colander.

Step 2: Sizzle Sausage and Fennel

Using the same pot, drizzle in some olive oil and heat it up over medium-high flame.

Toss in the fennel and let it dance around the pot, stirring occasionally.

Watch for the fennel to soften and become translucent, which takes about 5-6 minutes.

Next, add garlic and sausage to the mix.

Break up the sausage as it cooks, letting it brown and crisp up beautifully.

Step 3: Build Flavor Layers

Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper and lemon zest, letting them sizzle for about a minute to release their aromatic oils.

Return the pasta and broccoli rabe to the pot, mixing everything together.

Squeeze in fresh lemon juice and shower the dish with Parmesan cheese.

Gradually add the reserved pasta water, starting with half a cup, and stir until a luxurious sauce coats every strand of pasta.

Add more water if needed to reach your desired consistency.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Divide the steaming pasta among serving bowls.

• Creamy burrata cheese
• Fresh basil leaves
• Reserved fennel fronds

Serve immediately while everything is hot and the flavors are singing.

Enjoy this vibrant, zesty meal that brings together the best of comfort and freshness!

Pasta Tips for Sausage, Burrata & Broccoli Rabe Comfort

• Save that starchy liquid gold when draining pasta to create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every noodle.
• Blanch the greens briefly in salted water to mellow out its natural bitterness and maintain a vibrant green color.
• Break sausage into small, uneven pieces while cooking to maximize crispy edges and develop deep, caramelized flavor.
• Swap Italian sausage with chicken sausage, plant-based alternatives, or ground turkey for diverse dietary preferences.
• Use room temperature burrata for maximum creaminess, letting its luxurious center ooze over the hot pasta for a decadent finish.

Chill Lemony Pasta with Sausage & Burrata

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, keeping the burrata separate to maintain its creamy texture.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water to help restore moisture and prevent drying out.
• Reheat in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly and maintain pasta's texture.
• Add fresh burrata or a sprinkle of Parmesan after reheating to refresh the flavors and bring back the dish's original vibrancy.

Lemony Pasta with Sausage and Burrata Serving Ideas

• Perfect Wine Pairing: Choose a crisp Italian white wine like Vermentino or Pinot Grigio to complement the lemony and sausage flavors, cutting through the richness of burrata while enhancing the bright, herbaceous notes.
• Sparkling Beverage Match: Select a zesty prosecco or sparkling water with lemon to mirror the citrusy elements and refresh the palate between bites of the hearty pasta dish.
• Herbal Cocktail Companion: Mix a gin-based cocktail with fresh basil and lemon, echoing the dish's aromatic herbs and citrus undertones, creating a harmonious flavor profile that elevates the entire dining experience.
• Rustic Beer Pairing: Opt for a light, crisp wheat beer or Italian-style pilsner that won't overpower the delicate balance of sausage, broccoli rabe, and burrata, providing a clean and refreshing counterpoint to the rich ingredients.

One-Pot Pasta with Burrata Style Tweaks

• Vegetarian Delight: Replace sausage with plant-based crumbles or roasted chickpeas for a protein-packed meatless version. Add extra fennel and garlic for depth of flavor.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular pasta with chickpea, lentil, or rice pasta to make the dish gluten-free while maintaining a similar texture and nutritional profile.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Use spiralized zucchini or cauliflower rice instead of pasta. Keep the sausage and broccoli rabe for a lighter, low-carbohydrate meal that's still satisfying.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute burrata with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese alternative. Use cashew cream for a creamy texture that complements the lemony pasta.

FAQs

• What type of pasta works best for this recipe?

Short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or campanelle are ideal because they hold sauce well and capture the sausage and broccoli rabe perfectly.

• Can I substitute broccoli rabe with another vegetable?

Yes, regular broccoli or broccolini are great alternatives that provide similar texture and slightly bitter flavor profile.

• Is it necessary to use fennel in this recipe?

Fennel adds a wonderful aromatic dimension, but if you’re not a fan, you can skip it or replace with thinly sliced onions for a different but still delicious flavor.

• How spicy is this dish with crushed red pepper?

The crushed red pepper provides a mild heat that adds depth without overwhelming the other flavors. You can adjust the amount to your personal spice preference.

One-Pot Lemony Pasta With Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, And Burrata Recipe

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comforting one-pot lemony pasta delivers bold Italian flavors right to your plate. Sausage, broccoli rabe, and creamy burrata combine in a simple yet elegant dish that satisfies hunger and delights senses.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta and Protein:

• 1 pound (454 grams) rigatoni or other pasta
• 1 pound (454 grams) sweet Italian sausage, crumbled

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 10 ounces (283 grams) broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 3-inch pieces
• 8 ounces (227 grams) fennel bulb, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Cheese:

• Kosher salt, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 8 ounces (227 grams) burrata cheese
• Fennel fronds, for garnish
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Fill a spacious cooking vessel with generously salted water, bringing it to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until it reaches a perfect al dente texture, following package guidance.
2. During the final minute of pasta cooking, introduce broccoli rabe into the bubbling water, allowing it to blanch briefly.
3. Extract one cup of starchy cooking liquid, then carefully drain pasta and verdant greens together, preserving their tender consistency.
4. Return the identical pot to medium-high heat, drizzling with olive oil. Introduce fennel, allowing it to soften and caramelize while stirring intermittently.
5. Incorporate minced garlic and crumbled sausage, encouraging the meat to brown and develop crispy edges. Break apart the sausage as it sizzles.
6. Sprinkle crushed red pepper and fragrant lemon zest into the aromatic mixture, letting the spices bloom for approximately one minute.
7. Reunite the drained pasta and broccoli rabe with the sausage mixture, gently folding to distribute ingredients evenly.
8. Splash with bright lemon juice and shower with freshly grated Parmesan, creating depth of flavor.
9. Gradually introduce reserved pasta water, starting with half a cup, stirring until a silky sauce envelops the pasta. Adjust liquid as needed for ideal consistency.
10. Transfer to serving plates, crowning each portion with creamy burrata, delicate basil leaves, and reserved fennel fronds.
11. Present immediately, celebrating the vibrant, harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Notes

• Customize sausage type to match dietary preferences, such as using turkey or plant-based alternatives for a lighter version.
• Blanch broccoli rabe briefly in salted water to reduce bitterness and maintain its vibrant green color and crisp texture.
• Control sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water, ensuring a silky, clingy coating that perfectly adheres to the pasta.
• Experiment with cheese variations like ricotta or goat cheese if burrata is unavailable, maintaining the creamy element of the dish.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg