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Skillet Sausage and Cannellini Beans with Broccoli Rabe

By Vallery Lomas

Published on January 20, 2026

Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Skillet Sausage and Cannellini Beans with Broccoli Rabe

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 onion, sliced thin1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed3 garlic cloves, minced⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes 12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces¾ cup chicken broth 2 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed½ teaspoon table salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Shaved Parmesan cheese

Before You Begin

For more heat, use hot Italian sausage. Serve with crusty bread to swipe through the broth.

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 thinly sliced onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, and cook, breaking up sausage with spoon, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and ⅛ teaspoon pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, in several handfuls and cook until beginning to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add ¾ cup chicken broth and bring to simmer. Cook until broccoli rabe is fully tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in 2 rinsed cans cannellini beans, ½ teaspoon table salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until beans are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing shaved Parmesan separately.
Skillet Sausage and Cannellini Beans with Broccoli Rabe
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Kendra Smith.

Skillet Sausage and Cannellini Beans with Broccoli Rabe

Headshot of Vallery Lomas
By Vallery Lomas

Published on January 20, 2026

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Time

35 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, sliced thin
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
¾ cup chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Shaved Parmesan cheese

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, sliced thin
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
¾ cup chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Shaved Parmesan cheese

Ingredients

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, sliced thin
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
¾ cup chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed
½ teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Shaved Parmesan cheese

Why This Recipe Works

There’s good reason sausage and beans are often paired with broccoli rabe: The rich sausage and creamy beans help balance broccoli rabe’s slightly bitter bite. Sautéing an onion until it starts to brown adds sweetness that further offsets the rabe’s edge. A swirl of olive oil and big flakes of salty Parmesan complete this one-pan meal.

Before You Begin

For more heat, use hot Italian sausage. Serve with crusty bread to swipe through the broth.

Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 1 thinly sliced onion and cook until softened and starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed, and cook, breaking up sausage with spoon, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and ⅛ teaspoon pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 12 ounces broccoli rabe, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, in several handfuls and cook until beginning to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add ¾ cup chicken broth and bring to simmer. Cook until broccoli rabe is fully tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in 2 rinsed cans cannellini beans, ½ teaspoon table salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook until beans are warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing shaved Parmesan separately.

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