Broccoli & Sausage Pasta Bake 🥦🥩🧀🔥 Hearty, Cheesy, and Oven-Baked With Garlicky Sausage and Roasted Greens

This is a comfort bomb — savory sausage, tender broccoli, and al dente pasta all baked under a bubbling blanket of cheese. The sauce is creamy, garlicky, and balanced with a little spice and a lot of satisfaction.

It’s cozy, filling, and built for make-ahead magic or cold-night cravings. Think mac and cheese meets sausage casserole with a green twist.

Ingredients (Serves 4–6)

For the pasta

• 12 oz short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
• Salted water for boiling
• ½ cup reserved pasta water

For the broccoli and sausage

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or thawed from frozen)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: ½ tsp chili flakes or fennel seeds

For the sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
• 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar or mozzarella
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• Optional: 1 tsp Dijon mustard or splash of cream

To finish

• More cheese for topping
• Breadcrumbs or panko for crunch
• Chopped parsley or basil
• Optional: drizzle of olive oil or hot sauce

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta until just shy of al dente. Add broccoli to the same pot in the last 2 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the sausage
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Cook sausage until browned and crumbled. Add garlic and optional chili flakes or fennel. Sauté 1–2 more minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce
In a saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes until golden. Slowly whisk in milk. Simmer until thickened, then stir in cheeses and Dijon if using. Season to taste.

Step 4: Combine and build
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl or baking dish, combine pasta, broccoli, sausage, and cheese sauce. Stir until everything is coated. Add pasta water to loosen if needed.

Step 5: Bake it
Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with more cheese and optional breadcrumbs. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Broil briefly for crisp top if desired.

Step 6: Rest and serve
Let cool for 5 minutes. Top with herbs or drizzle of oil and serve hot.

Flavor Variations

• Use kale, spinach, or roasted cauliflower instead of broccoli
• Swap sausage for ground chicken, turkey, or plant-based sausage
• Add caramelized onions or sun-dried tomatoes for depth
• Use Gruyère or Fontina for a richer cheese blend
• Add a spoonful of ricotta or cream cheese to the sauce for extra creaminess

Pro Tips

• Slightly undercook pasta and broccoli — they finish in the oven
• Use sharp cheese for bold flavor
• Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce feels too thick when mixing
• Don’t skip the broil — it makes the top golden and irresistible
• Want extra crunch? Toss breadcrumbs in melted butter first

Final Thoughts

Broccoli & Sausage Pasta Bake is cozy, cheesy, and completely satisfying — a one-dish meal that brings the green, the protein, and the pasta all into harmony. It’s the kind of bake that hits every time and feeds a crowd or leftovers for days.

Brown it. Stir it. Bake it golden. 🥦🥩🧀🔥

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