Cavatelli Pasta Recipe With Italian Sausage Is a High-Protein Italian Dinner (6 Ingredients, 30 Minutes) High Protein Recipes Italian Recipes Pasta Dinner Low Sugar Recipes Pork

It's crazy how packed with flavor this easy cavatelli pasta recipe is, especially since it has just five ingredients. Cavatelli pasta is cooked with Italian sausage, garlic, cheese and broccoli rabe to create a high-protein dinner the whole family will devour.

Cavatelli are small pasta shells made from semolina or other flour dough. Some say the pasta looks like mini hot dog buns. When making homemade cavatelli, some add ricotta cheese into the dough mixture. We've used pre-made cavatelli pasta for this easy 30-minute recipe.

Variation: You could also stir the ricotta cheese into the pasta before serving for a creamier dish. Or add a big dollop on top!

To make this Italian pasta dinner recipe you will need Italian sausage, olive oil, fresh garlic, broccoli rabe (check out the health benefits of broccoli rabe), cavatelli pasta (or your favorite short pasta), Parmesan cheese and optional ricotta cheese.

Serve this high-protein pasta recipe for dinner with your favorite side dishes. 

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds broccoli rabe, ends trimmed and chopped
• 12 ounces cavatelli pasta or your favorite short pasta
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 1 cup ricotta cheese (optional)

Here's how to make it: 

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the sausage and cook until sausage is cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. (Use regular, mild, sweet or hot Italian sausage.)
2. While the sausage cooks, cook the broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling, salted water for about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the broccoli rabe with a slotted spoon and drain well. (If you're not a fan of broccoli rabe or can't find it, you could substitute broccoli, broccolini, spinach or kale.)
3. Add the pasta to the same boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Add the chopped broccoli rabe, cooked pasta, about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and the Parmesan cheese to the sausage. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish individual servings with a dollop of ricotta cheese, if desired, and more Parmesan.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily. Food, fun, health, happiness.