Rinse and trim the broccoli, then cut the florets into small pieces for cooking.
Start boiling the pasta according to the package, but remove it from heat 2 minutes before it's fully cooked; remember to save 2 cups of the pasta water.
Warm olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the Italian sausage, and break it up while cooking until it's nicely browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the chopped broccoli and minced garlic to the pan, stir them with the sausage, and cook for roughly 5 to 6 minutes until the broccoli is tender; sprinkle a little water in the pan to help soften the broccoli if needed.
Drain the pasta and add it into the skillet with the sausage and broccoli, pour in half of the reserved pasta water, and toss everything together.
If the pasta mixture feels dry, add more of the reserved pasta water little by little until the texture is just right.
Serve the dish hot with desired toppings such as grated parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, flaky sea salt, red pepper flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper.
