Hearty Sausage, Broccoli, and Parmesan Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta.

Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the crumbled Italian sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium, and add the broccoli florets to the skillet. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.

Next, stir in the minced garlic, followed by the half-and-half. Allow the mixture to bubble for a couple of minutes, making sure to scrape any brown bits on the bottom of the skillet into the sauce.

Check if the broccoli is tender to your liking, and cook longer if needed.

Finally, stir in the parmesan cheese and season the dish with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using.