Description
This one-pan orecchiette pasta is a simple, budget-friendly, and flavorful meal perfect for busy days. Combining spicy Italian sausage, tender orecchiette pasta, and fresh arugula all cooked in one skillet, it delivers a hearty dish with minimal cleanup. Parmesan cheese adds a savory finish, making it a satisfying meal for two that's easy to prepare and full of robust Italian flavors.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ onion, diced
- Salt to taste
- 8 ounces spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
- 3½ cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided, or as needed
- 1¼ cups orecchiette pasta, or more to taste
- ½ cup roughly chopped arugula, or to taste
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients needed to keep your cooking process smooth and efficient.
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until the onion softens and becomes translucent, about 5 minutes, developing a flavorful base.
- Cook Sausage: Add the spicy Italian sausage to the skillet. Break it apart with a spoon and cook until it is browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes, infusing the dish with robust flavors.
- Add Broth and Deglaze: Pour 1½ cups of chicken broth into the sausage mixture, bringing it to a boil. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet to incorporate that savory flavor into the broth.
- Cook Pasta: Stir in the orecchiette pasta into the boiling broth. Continue cooking and stirring, adding more chicken broth as the liquid is absorbed, to ensure the pasta cooks evenly. This process should take about 15 minutes, until the pasta is tender and most broth is absorbed.
- Add Arugula: Stir in the chopped arugula until it wilts, adding a fresh, peppery note and a vibrant green color to the dish.
- Serve: Spoon the pasta mixture into bowls and generously sprinkle with finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to finish. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of chicken broth as needed to ensure pasta cooks properly and the dish doesn't dry out.
- For less spice, substitute spicy Italian sausage with mild sausage or turkey sausage.
- Arugula can be substituted with spinach or kale if preferred.
- Adding a splash of white wine during deglazing can add extra depth of flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the pasta.
