Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Penne

Begin by filling a large cooking vessel with water that has been lightly seasoned with salt, then bring the mixture to a vigorous boil over extremely high heat. As soon as the water reaches its boiling point, add the penne pasta and return it to a rolling boil. Continue cooking the pasta without covering the pot, occasionally stirring the contents until the pasta is cooked through but still retains a slight firmness in the center, approximately 11 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the pasta to a colander placed in the sink, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid for later use.

Simultaneously, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the sausage pieces, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in the hot pan until the exterior of the sausage is no longer pink, roughly 4 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe to the pan and stir in 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Pour in the reserved 1/2 cup of pasta cooking liquid, cover the pan, and continue to cook until the sausage is no longer pink in the center and the broccoli rabe is tender, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Mix the cooked pasta, broccoli rabe, and an additional 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese together until the ingredients are evenly combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.