Hearty tubes of rigatoni with Italian sausage and broccoli make a balanced one-pot mediterranean meal. High in protein and loaded with vegetables, it's ideal for a family dinner on a 1600 calorie plan.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add rigatoni and cook until just al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and break apart with a spoon, cooking until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet and sauté until soft and translucent, 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute, careful not to burn.
Add broccoli florets to the skillet. Pour in 1/3 cup reserved pasta water, cover, and steam broccoli for 4–5 minutes until bright green and just tender.
Combine drained rigatoni with sausage-broccoli mixture in the skillet. Toss vigorously over medium heat, adding more pasta water as needed to coat. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Remove from heat and finish with Parmesan cheese.