Baked Sausage Feta Pasta with Broccoli & Peas
This Baked Sausage Feta Pasta with Broccoli and Peas is one of those easy dinners that feels a little fancy but is actually so simple to make!
A block of feta and a little cream cheese bake together with fresh broccoli, frozen peas, garlic, and seasonings until everything is soft and creamy. Meanwhile, the Italian sausage and orecchiette pasta cook separately on the stove. Then just toss it all together for a creamy, cheesy pasta dinner the whole family will love!
The orecchiette pasta is perfect for this recipe because those little pasta “cups” catch all of the creamy feta sauce, sausage, broccoli, and peas in every bite.
And the best part? No complicated sauce to make! The feta and cream cheese turn into a delicious creamy sauce right in the baking dish.
Why You’ll Love This Sausage Feta Pasta
- Easy to make – The sausage and pasta cook separately while the feta and vegetables bake.
- One creamy sauce – The feta and cream cheese create the sauce right in the baking dish.
- Family friendly – Mild Italian sausage keeps the flavor delicious without making it too spicy.
- Loaded with veggies – Fresh broccoli and frozen peas add color, texture, and a little extra nutrition.
- Perfect for busy weeknights – Everything comes together in about 45 minutes.
Ingredients
For the baked feta and vegetables:
- Block feta cheese
- Cream cheese, cut into chunks
- Fresh broccoli florets, cut into small pieces
- Frozen peas
- Olive oil
- Seasoning- garlic, Italian seasoning, black pepper, onion powder, crushed red pepper
- Grated parmesan cheese
For the pasta and sausage:
- Mild Italian sausage, casings removed- ground beef, chicken or turkey works as well
- Orecchiette pasta- or any small pasta shape
- Reserved pasta water
- More Parmesan cheese, optional
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Equipment
- Dutch oven, oven safe pan or baking dish for the pasta. I’m using this Dutch Oven.
- Skillet- to cook the sausage. I love my Always 2.0 Pan
- Pot to cook the pasta. I’ve had this pasta pot by Faberware for 15 years and use it multiple times a week!
How to Make Baked Sausage Feta Pasta
1. Bake the feta and vegetables
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Place the block of feta in the center of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Add the chunks of cream cheese around the feta.
Add the broccoli and frozen peas to the baking dish. Drizzle everything with olive oil and sprinkle with the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if you’re using them.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and the feta and cream cheese are soft.
2. Cook the Italian sausage
While the feta and vegetables are baking, cook the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat.
Break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks and continue cooking until it’s browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
3. Cook the orecchiette
Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
Before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Don’t skip this step! The starchy pasta water helps turn the baked feta and cream cheese into a smooth, creamy sauce.
4. Make the feta sauce
Remove the baking dish from the oven.
Use a spoon to mash and stir the softened feta and cream cheese together. Stir the roasted broccoli, peas, and garlic. Add in the parmesan cheese.
Add the reserved pasta water, stirring until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
5. Add the pasta and sausage
Add the cooked orecchiette and Italian sausage to the baking dish.
Toss everything together until the pasta is coated in the creamy feta sauce.
If the sauce seems too thick, add another splash of pasta water until it reaches the consistency you like.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm!
💕 Share the Love
Know someone who would love this recipe? Share it with a friend or tag them so they can try it too!
It helps more people find easy, family-friendly recipes like this 💗
Tips
Cut the broccoli small. Smaller florets cook more quickly and make it easier to get a little broccoli in every bite.
Use frozen peas. There’s no need to thaw them first. Just toss them right into the baking dish.
Save your pasta water! This is the secret to getting that creamy feta sauce. The starch in the pasta water helps loosen the cheese and makes it silky. I save more than I think I’ll need just in case the sauce is too thick and needs thinned out.
Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook it just until al dente since it will be tossed with the hot sauce.
Want some heat? Add extra crushed red pepper flakes or swap the mild Italian sausage for hot Italian sausage.
Make it extra creamy. If you love a really creamy pasta, add another 2 ounces of cream cheese.
Can I use a different pasta?
Absolutely! Orecchiette is my favorite because the little cups hold onto the creamy sauce, but penne, rigatoni, rotini, or shells would all work well.
Can I use fresh peas instead of frozen?
Yes! Fresh peas can be used in place of frozen peas. You can add them directly to the baking dish.
Can I make this with chicken sausage?
Yes. Chicken sausage would be a delicious lighter alternative to Italian sausage. You could also use turkey sausage, ground turkey, ground beef, ground turkey, shredded rotisserie chicken, cook shrimp or scallops.
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk or water when reheating if the sauce has thickened.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can prepare the baked feta and vegetables and cook the sausage and pasta ahead of time. Store everything separately in the refrigerator, then gently reheat and combine when you’re ready to serve.
What to Serve with Sausage Feta Pasta
This pasta is hearty enough to be a complete meal, but I love serving it with a simple side salad or some crusty garlic bread.
A loaf of warm bread is especially good for scooping up any extra creamy feta sauce left on your plate!
More Easy Pasta Recipes
If you love easy pasta dinners, you’ll also want to try some of my other family-friendly favorites:
- One Pan Ham and Cheese Pasta
- Oven Baked Chicken Fajita Pasta
- Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak Pasta
- Cheeseburger Pasta
- Creamy Lemon Pasta
- Sloppy Joe Pasta
This post contains affiliate links
Baked Sausage Feta Pasta with Broccoli & Peas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounce block feta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese cut into chunks
- 12 ounces mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place feta in the center of a 9×13-inch baking dish and arrange cream cheese around it.
- Add broccoli and frozen peas. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. (if using)
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and the cheeses are soft.
- While the feta bakes, brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease.
- Cook orecchiette according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven. Mash the feta and cream cheese together and stir with the vegetables. Add in the Parmesan cheese.
- Slowly add pasta water, stirring until the mixture becomes creamy.
- Add cooked pasta and sausage and toss until well combined.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan and fresh parsley, if desired. Serve warm.
Nutrition
👩🍳 Follow Along for More
Love easy, real-life recipes? Follow along for simple meals your whole family will actually eat.
Follow Steph’s Real Life
