# High Protein Broccoli Sausage Pasta (with Ground Chicken)

This is a high protein pasta recipe that uses lean ground chicken instead of fatty pork sausage and a sweet and spicy sauce.

- Servings: 4 servings
- Cuisine: Italian
- Category: Drink
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 8 oz orecchiette or small pasta shells
- 1 bunch broccolini or broccoli florets sliced into thin bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chopped Calabrian chili peppers
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cubes frozen crushed garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 2 oz grated parmesan
- 1 lemon zest
- salt
- pepper
- lemon juice
- chili flakes or Calabrian chili peppers

## Instructions

1. Cook 8 oz orecchiette or small pasta shells in a pot of boiling salted water until just shy of al dente.
2. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
3. Slice 1 bunch (about 8 oz) of broccolini or broccoli florets into thin bite-size pieces.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a nonstick pan.
5. Add the broccolini to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing a few times, until nicely roasted all over.
6. Transfer the broccolini to a bowl and set aside.
7. Add a pound of ground chicken breast to the same pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on one side before breaking apart with a spatula.
8. Once the chicken is fully cooked, add a sauce made with 2 tablespoons each of tomato paste, chopped Calabrian chili peppers (or swap for more tomato paste), and balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 cubes of frozen crushed garlic (or 2 cloves fresh), 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and 1/3 cup water.
9. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
10. Add the broccolini back to the pan and toss them together.
11. Add the cooked pasta, 2 oz grated parmesan, the zest of 1 lemon, and about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water.
12. Toss together until a smooth and creamy sauce forms, using more pasta water if needed.
13. Finish with salt/pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, extra grated parm, and chili flakes or more Calabrian chili peppers if you dig spice.

## Equipment

- pot
- nonstick pan
- bowl
- spatula

## Tips

- Leave the chicken in larger pieces, between a pea and a marble, instead of completely crumbling.
- Use more pasta water if needed to form a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Finish with salt/pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice, extra grated parm, and chili flakes or more Calabrian chili peppers if you like spice.

## Source

- Original video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZIZipIPuSL/?igsh=MXhycjZ4M3ZpdXBkZw==
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/37748ba2-1a24-4939-bd31-411e0c290c1d
- Extracted: 2026-06-07

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt