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Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan

Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan balances the pleasant bitterness of greens with spicy, garlicky sausage and bright, juicy tomatoes. Twirls of whole wheat rotini catch the sauce, while Parmesan and a pinch of red pepper flakes round it out with salty richness and gentle heat. Ideal for a bold weeknight dinner that feels hearty yet unfussy.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook20 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyEasy
Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

57 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
53 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
37 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
91 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

30
Heart Health
82
Metabolic
57
Digestive
35
Inflammatory
52
Performance
58
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, stir in the rotini and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 6 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.

  2. 2

    While the pasta cooks, place a steamer insert in a saucepan and add water to just below the steamer’s bottom. Cover and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli rabe, cover again, and steam until just tender, about 2 minutes depending on thickness.

  3. 3

    At the same time, place the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until browned and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes.

  4. 4

    Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside; drain the excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon of sausage drippings in the pan.

  5. 5

    Sprinkle in the garlic and cook until it begins to brown, about 1 minute.

  6. 6

    Stir in half of the broccoli rabe. Cook and stir until the rabe has wilted, then add the remaining rabe and the diced tomatoes.

  7. 7

    Cook until the rabe is tender, about 5 minutes; season with salt and black pepper.

  8. 8

    Return the sausage to the skillet and cook just until the meat is heated through; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil.

  9. 9

    Serve over hot rotini.

About This Recipe

Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan is an Italian dinner recipe made with 10 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 4, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Broccoli, Diced Tomatoes, Garlic, and Grated Parmesan Cheese. Each serving provides about 782.04 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan?
It is an Italian recipe made with 10 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
What is Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan made of?
The main ingredients are Broccoli, Diced Tomatoes, Garlic, Grated Parmesan Cheese, Hot Italian Pork Sausage. The full list of 10 is above.
What goes well with Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan?
Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan?
About 30 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 782.04 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 9 steps.
Is Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan healthy?
Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe with Parmesan has an easyChef Pro health score of 57/100. Per serving, it provides 782.04 calories and 37.97 g of protein, or 76% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1481.39 mg (64% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 10.09 g (50% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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