Chicken Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, And Cheese: A Tasty Trio

how to cook chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and cheese

Chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and cheese is a delicious and hearty meal that can be prepared in various ways. One popular method is to create a pasta dish, such as penne or orecchiette, with the addition of chickpeas, Parmesan, butter, and lemon juice to balance the heat from the sausage. Alternatively, the chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, and cheese can be grilled and served with bread, arugula, tomatoes, and provolone cheese for a tasty sandwich option. The key to this combination lies in the simple preparation of the sausage and broccoli rabe, which can be adapted to suit personal preferences and dietary needs.

Characteristics and their values for cooking chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and cheese:

Characteristics Values
Type of sausage Chicken sausage, hot Italian sausage, mild sausage, turkey sausage
Type of cheese Parmesan, provolone
Other ingredients Broccoli rabe, pasta, olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, lemon juice, butter, chickpeas, chicken stock, mushrooms, arugula, tomatoes
Cooking methods Pan-frying, sautéing, grilling, boiling
Cooking time Varies depending on the cooking method and ingredients used, but generally around 10-20 minutes
Serving suggestions Serve over penne or orecchiette pasta, or with sliced bread and chicken

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Prepare the ingredients

To prepare the ingredients for chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and cheese, start by gathering your ingredients. You will need chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, cheese, olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. You may also choose to add other ingredients such as pasta, chicken, mushrooms, or tomatoes, depending on your preference and the specific recipe you are following.

Once you have your ingredients, you will need to prepare them for cooking. Start by cutting the broccoli rabe. You can either cut just the tips of the broccoli rabe or chop it into large pieces. If you are including pasta in your dish, you will need to bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until it is al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water for later.

Next, prepare the chicken sausage. Prick the sausage in a few places with the tip of a sharp knife to prevent the casing from splitting during cooking. Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, adding a small amount of water to the skillet as needed. Once the sausage is cooked, set it aside in a dish or bowl.

If you are including garlic in your dish, add some more olive oil to the skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook until it is golden, being careful not to burn it. Return the broccoli rabe to the skillet and mix it with the garlic and oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for about a minute.

Finally, if you are including cheese in your dish, you can add it directly to the skillet with the sausage and broccoli rabe and mix until evenly combined. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the cheese on top of the dish just before serving.

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Cook the chicken sausage

To cook chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and cheese, you'll need to start by preparing the sausage. Prick the chicken sausage in several places with the tip of a sharp knife—this will prevent the casing from splitting during cooking. Heat some olive oil in a heavy, large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken sausage and cook until browned on both sides and cooked through. This should take around 15-25 minutes. If your skillet becomes dry while the sausage is cooking, add a splash of water.

Once the sausage is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside. You can now cook the broccoli rabe. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add the broccoli rabe. Blanch for about 1-2 minutes, then drain and set aside. Refill the pot with water and salt, bring back to a boil, and add your chosen pasta. Cook according to the package directions.

Return to your skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Add a little more olive oil to the pan, then add garlic and cook until golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Return the cooked broccoli rabe to the pan and mix well with the garlic and oil. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for about a minute.

Finally, add the cooked chicken sausage back to the pan, along with your cooked pasta and some grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until evenly mixed. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious creation!

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Prepare the broccoli rabe

To prepare the broccoli rabe, start by cutting it into quarters. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and, once it reaches a rolling boil, add the broccoli rabe. Blanch the vegetable for about 1.5 to 2 minutes. Drain the broccoli rabe and set it aside in a colander. You can soak the broccoli rabe with the leaves down in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. You can either cut just the tips of the broccoli rabe or chop it into large pieces.

Return the pot to the stove and refill it with water and salt for the pasta. Bring the water back to a boil and add the pasta, cooking according to the package directions for al dente. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander, reserving about half a cup of the pasta water.

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Combine sausage, broccoli rabe, and cheese

To combine chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, and cheese, you can prepare them in a variety of ways, including grilling, pan-frying, or boiling. Here are some detailed instructions on how to combine these ingredients effectively:

Grilled Chicken with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage:

  • Grill the chicken until cooked through and the juices run clear.
  • In a separate pan, brown the sausage and add mushrooms, sauteing until the mushrooms soften.
  • Add the broccoli rabe, chicken stock, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Slice some bread and lay it out on a serving plate.
  • Spoon the broccoli rabe and sausage mixture over the bread, and top each serving with the grilled chicken.
  • Finish it off with some arugula, tomatoes, and sliced provolone cheese. Drizzle the broccoli rabe sauce over the dish and serve immediately.

Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe:

  • Cut the broccoli rabe into quarters.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and blanch the broccoli rabe for about 1.5 to 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Re-fill the pot with water and salt, and bring it back to a boil. Add orecchiette pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente.
  • In a large, deep pan, brown the chicken sausage on medium heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Set aside when fully cooked.
  • Increase the heat, add olive oil to the pan, and cook garlic until golden.
  • Return the broccoli rabe to the pan, mixing it with the garlic and oil. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for about a minute.
  • Toss the cooked orecchiette pasta with the sausage and broccoli rabe mixture.
  • Add some grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta and mix well.

Penne with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe:

  • Soak the broccoli rabe in cold water for 20 minutes. You can cut it into large pieces or just use the tips.
  • Cook the penne pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it is al dente, about 11 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
  • In a separate pan, cook the chicken sausage pieces with garlic and red pepper flakes until the sausage is no longer pink.
  • Stir in the broccoli rabe and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
  • Pour in the reserved pasta water, cover, and cook until the sausage is fully cooked and the broccoli rabe is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Mix the cooked pasta with the sausage and broccoli rabe, adding more Parmesan cheese to taste. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

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Serve

Once your chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, and cheese dish is cooked, you can serve it in a variety of ways depending on your preference. Here are some options:

Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

To serve this dish, simply follow the previous cooking instructions and plate the cooked orecchiette, chicken sausage, and broccoli rabe together. You can top it with some grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for an extra kick. This dish is best served hot and can be paired with a side of garlic bread or a crisp salad.

Grilled Chicken with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage

For this serving suggestion, you can grill some chicken breasts and thighs separately. In a pan, saute some mushrooms until they start to soften, then add the cooked broccoli rabe, chicken stock, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Slice some fresh bread and lay it out on a serving plate. Spoon the broccoli rabe and sausage mixture over the bread, then top each slice with a chicken breast or thigh. Finish with some arugula, sliced tomatoes, and provolone cheese. Drizzle the broccoli rabe sauce over the dish and serve immediately.

Penne with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. In a separate pan, cook the chicken sausage until browned and cooked through. Set the sausage aside and add some olive oil to the pan. Saute some garlic until golden, then add the cooked broccoli rabe and season with salt and pepper. Toss the cooked penne with the broccoli rabe mixture and mix in the chicken sausage. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and serve hot.

Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, and Chickpeas

Cook the pasta of your choice according to the package instructions. In a skillet, cook the chicken sausage, broccoli rabe, chickpeas, salt, and pepper over medium heat until the sausage is cooked through and the broccoli rabe is tender. Add the cooked pasta and a little pasta water to create a sauce. Toss well and cook over low heat until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and mix in some butter, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Serve in shallow bowls and top with additional cheese if desired.

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