Feta Pasta Bake with Sausage + Video
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This Feta Pasta Bake recipe turned into one of the most viral TikTok recipes yet! Juicy tomatoes and extra creamy cheese combine into a delectable sauce for tender noodles and smoked sausage. If you’re looking for a cheesy sausage and pasta bake recipe, this is the one to try!
Feta Pasta Bake
During the week, I love making easy pasta recipes that are packed with flavor but require very little work.
It’s even better if they are made with simple ingredients that I can find easily at the store.
This feta baked pasta is based on a viral recipe called #uunifetapasta that originated in Finland. It was a huge hit, and I just had to see for myself why it was so good.
Feta is one of my favorite cheeses because it pairs so well with so many different flavors. But, one of the best combinations is feta and tomato.
You’ll see what I mean when you make this recipe!
We also have a Tomato Feta Pasta Salad that is amazing. And if you’re looking for a more refreshing dish, you have to try this Cucumber Watermelon Salad!
Recipe Video
To see us make this pasta bake with feta from start to finish, watch the video in this post!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Feta Cheese – The original recipe calls for a block of Greek feta, which gets extra soft and creamy when baked in the oven.
If you want to save a few minutes or cannot find blocks of feta, you can easily use pre-crumbled feta for this sausage and pasta bake.
Be sure to keep it stacked in the center of the baking dish. - Pasta – My feta baked pasta recipe uses penne noodles. However, you could recreate the same dish with any type of small pasta.
Orecchiette, farfalle, fusilli, and cavatappi would all be really great choices. - Sausage – You’ll need a long sausage link — the kind that is packaged in a U-shape. Smoked sausage is preferred, but kielbasa would work too.
You can also try cubed chicken or shrimp. Or, if you want to make this recipe vegetarian, leave out the meat entirely and just add more vegetables. - Tomatoes – This penne and sausage pasta bake is best with cherry tomatoes, but you can easily use grape tomatoes instead.
Smaller tomatoes are packed with more flavor.
The tomatoes really make this recipe what it is. But, you can also try adding or swapping in asparagus, broccoli, red bell peppers, or red chili peppers. - Garlic – Fresh cloves are the way to go! Mince them so it’s easier to mix them in with the tomatoes.
Or, for even bolder flavor, slice the top off a small head of garlic and nestle it into the baking dish with cheese and tomatoes.
Drizzle with extra olive oil and seasonings and bake as directed.
Squeeze the roasted garlic into the pan, then smash and stir it into the cheesy sauce!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Pasta Bake with Feta
- Use the freshest ingredients possible.
With such a simple recipe, the quality of every ingredient — especially the feta and tomatoes — really makes a difference!
Tomatoes should be vibrant, firm, and at the peak of ripeness. Look for a well-established brand of Greek feta, and opt for extra virgin olive oil for the best taste.
- Save some pasta water.
After boiling but before draining the noodles, ladle out about a cup of the starchy water.
Use this to thin out the cheesy sauce as needed without watering down the flavor! I also like to keep any extra for reheating leftovers.
- Cook noodles just to al dente.
This means they should still have a slight bite. When tossed with the other ingredients, the pasta will soak up some of the sauce and soften a bit more.
- Skip the baking if you are short on time.
You can easily make this feta pasta bake recipe entirely on the stovetop if needed.
Use a third skillet — I suggest a Dutch oven — to simmer the tomatoes and feta until softened, then combine everything as directed.
Prep Ahead
- Slice sausage and onion
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Chop fresh basil
- Shred parmesan cheese
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- 9×13 Baking Dish – This set is one of my favorites! It comes with a lid for easy storage and is great for casseroles too.
- Large Pot and Strainer for the pasta
- Non-Stick Skillet – Everyone needs a good skillet. I use this almost daily for everything from cooking eggs to browning chicken and ground beef.
- Cheese Grater – Fresh cheese makes this recipe even better! Skip the bagged shreds and buy a wedge to grate yourself.
- Wood Turner – My most used spoon or spatula in my kitchen! It’s amazing for sauteing vegetables and browning meat.
Serving Suggestions
Top your feta pasta bake with freshly grated parmesan and chopped basil leaves before dishing into bowls.
It’s enough for a standalone meal, maybe with some garlic bread or crostini. A big green salad or some roasted veggies would pair well too.
Or, serve this pasta bake with feta as a side dish with herbed chicken or smoked salmon!
Storing and Reheating Feta Baked Pasta
While best served fresh, you can refrigerate this dish for up to 3 days in an airtight container. After that, the tomatoes become too watery.
Reheat leftover penne and sausage pasta bake on the stovetop or in the oven, adding splashes of water (or reserved pasta water) to loosen the sauce.
Sausage and Pasta Bake FAQ
I know that not everyone likes the taste of feta cheese. So, if you’d rather try something different in this recipe, you can use Boursin garlic and herb cheese instead.
It’s a soft creamy cheese full of flavor that would also go very well with tomatoes — the perfect substitute in this feta pasta bake!
Other alternatives include goat cheese or full-fat ricotta, though the baking time will need to be reduced.
Nope! The heat from the oven will cause them to burst open and release their juices, forming the liquid base for our creamy sauce.
Sure! Instead of stirring cooked noodles into the cheesy sausage sauce, spoon it over rice, quinoa, or rice cauliflower. It’ll be low-carb and gluten-free too!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Feta Pasta Bake with Sausage + Video
Ingredients
- 24 ounces cherry tomatoes, 2 12-ounce packages
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil, extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounce Greek feta block
- 1 yellow onion, halved then sliced
- 14 ounce package smoked sausage, sliced into 1/2” slices
- 1 handful spinach, about one loose cup
- 1 pound package penne pasta
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, place tomatoes and garlic. Top with olive oil and dry spices. Stir to coat. Spread the tomatoes out and place the block of feta cheese in the center of the baking dish. Place in the oven to cook for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
- Meanwhile, boil water with salt and cook penne according to the directions on the package. When finished cooking, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain and set pasta aside.
- In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, begin to cook the sliced onions. After a few minutes, add the sliced sausage. Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to flip the sliced sausage pieces. Remove from heat, drain grease, and set aside.
- Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven. Break up the feta cheese and crush the tomatoes, then stir to combine. Add a handful of fresh spinach and stir until wilted. Add in pasta, sausage, and onion mixture. Stir to combine well. Add in reserved pasta water to thin sauce if needed.
- Top with freshly grated parmesan and freshly chopped basil. Serve while hot and enjoy!
Video
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published March 2021, updated and republished March 2024
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Not a tomato fan but do like the other things you said to mix in and will do so.
Would mozzarella cheese work just as well?
This is such a savory pasta, a very comforting and warm dish. I love making at least one pasta dish a week and this is on the rotation!