TEN-MINUTE PASTA
Gemelli, turkey sausage, broccoli, tomatoes, Parmesan, and basil come together in one skillet for a satisfying meal for two.
When lunch needs to be quick, pasta is an easy answer. This version turns a short ingredient list into a complete bowl with savory sausage, crisp-tender broccoli, rustic tomato sauce, and a fresh basil finish.
Why This Pasta Is So Fast
What makes the recipe useful is fully cooked gemelli. Because the pasta only needs to heat through in the skillet, the dish comes together in roughly 10 minutes once ingredients are prepped. With no pasta pot to monitor, attention can stay on building flavor in the pan.
Build It in One Skillet
The cooking starts with garlic warmed briefly in olive oil, followed by crumbled turkey sausage. Broccoli florets and the finely chopped stem cook in the same pan before whole tomatoes are crushed into a quick sauce. The gemelli’s twists catch the tomato sauce, browned meat, and vegetables instead of letting them fall to the bottom of the bowl.
Finish It Fresh
Once the pasta is hot, Parmesan helps the tomato juices cling to every twist while basil keeps the bowl lively. Finish with black pepper, a little more cheese, and a light drizzle of olive oil, then serve immediately so the broccoli keeps its bite.
RECIPE
Turkey Sausage Gemelli
Ingredients
- 1 pouch fully cooked gemelli pasta, enough for 2 servings
- 2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for finishing
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/3 pound turkey sausage, casings removed and meat crumbled
- 1/2 head broccoli, cut into small florets with the stem finely chopped
- 1 (14-ounce) can whole tomatoes in purée
- 1/4 cup torn fresh basil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
- Set a heavy skillet over medium-high heat and warm the olive oil. Stir in the garlic for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the sausage, break it into pieces with a spoon, and brown it for about 2 minutes.
- Fold in the broccoli and cook for about 3 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes with their purée, crush the tomatoes with the spoon, and simmer for another 2 minutes, until the sausage is cooked through.
- Massage the sealed pasta pouch to loosen the gemelli. Open it, add the pasta to the skillet, and toss until thoroughly hot.
- Add the Parmesan and a small drizzle of olive oil. Toss, season with salt and pepper, then divide between two bowls. Finish with basil, extra Parmesan, and oil.
