This Vegan Sausage Pasta with Broccolini recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and has tons of flavor thanks to Beyond Meat Italian Sausage. Its quick, easy and full of flavor with minimal effort. When people ask me how to eat more vegan or vegetarian meals, this is the fist recipe I give them.
I love to make classic Italian dishes. A quick and simple Vegan Puttanesca is perfect for a weeknight dinner. And a more time consuming but still easy Vegan Leek and Kale Risotto is the best special occasion recipe. Or I love to make Vegan Parsley Scallion Pesto to top just about anything with.
And this Vegan Sausage Pasta with Broccolini recipe is inspired by the classic Italian pasta dish called orecchetti with sausage and broccoli rabe. But, I prefer rigatoni and broccoli rabe can be hard to find, so I use broccolini instead. White its not traditional, its still delicious. So lets make it!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is the first recipe I give to people who are trying to eat less meat. Here is why:
- This recipe has tons of flavor.
- Its ready in 30 minutes so its great for weeknights.
- There is plenty of plant-based protein from the Beyond Meat Italian Sausage.
- Its full of familiar flavors like garlic and a bit of lemon zest.
- And this recipe uses simple methods- its perfect for beginners!
Ingredient Notes
Pasta: I choose rigatoni because its my favorite pasta shape. I recommend any short cut, rigate (which refers to the little lines on the pasta) pasta for this recipe.
Beyond Meat Italian Sausage: I like Beyond Meat Hot Italian Sausage for this Vegan Sausage Pasta recipe.
Garlic: This recipe has big garlic flavor!
Broccolini: Broccolini is a cousin of broccoli that has tender and delicious stems. Is perfect with a pasta shape like rigatoni!
Lemon: A little zest and juice in this recipe for flavor and acidity.
Substitutions
Use any short cut rigate pasta for this Vegan Sausage Pasta recipe. Oreccheti, pipe rigate, or even penne will all work!
If you can't find broccolini, substitute 10-12 ounces of broccoli, broccoli rabe or even chopped kale!
Which Plant Based Sausage is the Best?
The only vegan sausages I will recommend for this recipe are Beyond Meat Hot Italian or Sweet Italian Sausage, or Impossible Foods Spicy Sausage.
Do not use Tofurkey, Lightlife or even Field Roast here. These brands are not fatty or flavorful enough for this pasta recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Remove the casing from the vegan sausage by slitting the sausage with a knife and peeling the casing off.
Step 2. Add the sausage to a skillet and break it up. Allow it to cook for 2 minutes.
Step 3. Add the garlic and continue cooking until the sausage is brown.
Step 4. Add the broccolini into the skillet and place a lid on and allow it to cook for 5 minutes.
Step 5. Deglaze the pan with vegetable stock and add lemon zest, lemon juice and red pepper flakes.
Step 6. Add the cooked pasta and toss together until the vegetable stock is mostly gone and serve!
Recipe FAQs
To store, scoop the pasta into an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes! But you will need to use a very large pan like a braiser to or a large dutch oven.
No. If you want to skip that step, you can. Just chop the sausage up and add it to the pan.
Expert Recipe Tips
Be sure to use a very large skillet that has a lid to sauté the sausage. Remember that it needs to be big enough for all of the broccolini and pasta, too.
Cut the broccolini about the same side as your pasta shape. It will make it easier to eat this Vegan Sausage Pasta!
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Sausage Pasta with Broccolini
Equipment
- 1 12" Skillet with a lid
- 1 3-4 Quart Pot For boiling the pasta
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Spatula or Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
- 8 oz Rigatoni or other short pasta shape
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Beyond Meat Hot Italian Sausage Links or 7 ounces of another vegan sausage
- 2 Large Cloves of Garlic, minced
- 10-12 Ounces Broccolini, cut into 2 inch long pieces see note
- ½ Cup Vegetable Stock
- ½ tsp Lemon Zest
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a 3-4 quart pot of water to a boil. Season the water with salt and cook the rigatoni to al dente.8 oz Rigatoni
- Meanwhile, remove the casing from the sausage links by slicing down the length of the sausage and peeling the casing off.2 Beyond Meat Hot Italian Sausage Links
- Add the olive oil to a 12 inch skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and it break into chunks with a wooden spoon. Allow to cook for 2 minutes.1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Add the garlic and sauté everything until sausage is browned. About 4 minutes.2 Large Cloves of Garlic, minced
- Add broccolini to the pan and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place a lid on the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.10-12 Ounces Broccolini, cut into 2 inch long pieces, Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- Add vegetable stock to deglaze the pan, then add lemon zest and crushed red pepper flake and lemon juice. Use the wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.¼ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, ½ Cup Vegetable Stock, ½ teaspoon Lemon Zest, 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- Add cooked pasta to the pan and cook everything together until most of the liquid from the pan has mostly evaporated. Serve.
Donna McGee says
Easy and delicious!
Megan Calipari says
So happy you liked it!
Donna McGee says
This has been in our regular rotation and everyone loves it. I didn't have any broccolini tonight but remembered I had some leftover grilled veggies in the freezer - it was delicious!
Megan Calipari says
That sounds like a delicious combo! So happy you enjoyed it