Sausage Broccoli Cream Sauce (Printable Version)

Creamy parmesan sauce coats tender broccoli and savory sausage, paired perfectly with pasta in this hearty dish.

# Everything You’ll Need:

→ Sauce

01 - 3/4 cup half and half
02 - 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
03 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
05 - 1 teaspoon soy sauce
06 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
10 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

→ Sausage and Pasta

11 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
12 - 1 pound ground sausage (hot, sweet, or mild)
13 - 1/2 cup dry white wine
14 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
16 - 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
17 - 1 tablespoon softened cream cheese (optional)
18 - 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
19 - 1/2 pound medium shell pasta
20 - 3 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets
21 - 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

→ Topping

22 - Red pepper flakes, to taste
23 - Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

# Steps to Cook:

01 - Combine half and half, chicken broth, hot sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, onion powder, oregano, basil, parsley, and garlic salt in a large measuring cup and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground sausage and cook, breaking it up, until fully cooked, about 7 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside. Turn off heat.
03 - Add white wine to the skillet and heat over medium. Use a silicone spatula to scrape the bottom, loosening browned bits for flavor. Simmer until the wine reduces by half, approximately 4 minutes.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Melt butter and slowly whisk in flour. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the raw flour aroma dissipates.
05 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions. Add broccoli during the last 3 to 5 minutes if fresh, or 2 to 4 minutes if frozen. Drain thoroughly.
06 - Gradually add the prepared sauce mixture to the skillet in small increments, stirring continuously to maintain sauce thickness. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Stir in cream cheese until smooth, then gradually add Parmesan cheese, stirring until incorporated.
07 - Return the cooked sausage and drained pasta with broccoli to the skillet. Stir gently to combine and heat through. Remove from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice.
08 - Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and freshly cracked black pepper before serving.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - Use fresh or thawed frozen broccoli to prevent temperature drops during cooking. Grating Parmesan from a block ensures better melt and flavor. Cream cheese adds richness but is optional. Dry white wines like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio work well; chicken broth can substitute if needed.
02 - Leftovers can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to three days or frozen up to three months. Reheat gently to preserve the creamy texture.

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