Orecchiette with Sausage and Peas

Name: Orecchiette with Sausage and Peas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb dry orecchiette pasta; 1 lb ground pork sausage; 1½ cups frozen peas; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 shallot (minced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); ½ tsp red pepper flakes; salt and pepper (to taste); ½ lemon (for juice); grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)

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Orecchiette with Sausage and Peas is a delicious blend of pasta, pork sausage, and peas. It is simple to make and a perfect weeknight meal.

Orecchiette with Sausage and Peas in a bowl garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese, surrounded by a small bowl of extra cheese and peas.

Orecchiette with sausage and peas is an ideal recipe for weeknight cooking. It uses common ingredients, while also versatile to what you have on hand. The dish comes together in 30-minutes. Oh, and it makes six whole servings!

In addition to this recipe, we have a few other favorite quick-and-easy weeknight meals including 10-Minute Hearts of Palm Pasta and 10-Minute Creamy Tomato Soup.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions
Instructions
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Recipes You'll Love
Orecchiette with Sausage and Peas

Why You Will Love This Recipe

It is easy! Pasta is a fantastic option for quick-and easy cooking.
It is economical. One box of pasta, half a package of frozen peas, and one package of pork sausage will give you six whole servings of pasta.
This pasta recipe is easily adaptable. The ingredients are simple and can easily be substituted with similar items, like frozen broccoli for the frozen peas.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Orecchiette Pasta - This ear-shaped pasta is perfect for recipes like this one. The shape of this pasta holds all of the sausage, peas, and seasoning bits, leaving each bite full of flavorful goodness.
Pork Sausage - While this recipe is not limited to the use of only pork sausage, I do enjoy it best in this dish. Otherwise, any form of ground breakfast sausage will do, as well as sweet Italian sausage too.
Peas - Frozen peas are not only affordable but crazy useful in the kitchen. For this recipe, they are simply microwaved before they are added in with the rest of the ingredients. If you do not have or do not like peas, use broccoli.
Shallot - Shallots are milder in flavor than onions, but hold all of the same flavorful properties. Their delicate, sweeter flavor accompanies the other ingredients in this recipe without overwhelming the dish.
Garlic - This is a simple pasta recipe, so every ingredient is essential for a specific purpose. Garlic is one of the most important components for the flavor of this pasta.
Red Pepper Flakes - The red pepper flakes pair beautifully with the sausage. They bring a subtle spiciness to this dish that is absolutely addictive.
Lemon Juice - Every recipe needs a little acid, in this one, it comes from the use of fresh lemon juice.
Parmesan Cheese - The cheese is simply for garnish. You can, however, stir some into the pasta as well if desired.

A close-up shot of this orecchiette pasta in a bowl and garnished with Parmesan cheese.

Instructions

This orecchiette with sausage recipe is easy to make and ready in just 30-minutes!

Boil a pot of salted water for the orecchiette pasta. Once boiling, cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
While the water is boiling, cook the sausage. In a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, cook the sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage from the pan and drain the fat.
Place the frozen peas in a microwave-safe bowl with the recommended amount of water (on the package) and cook according to package instructions.
Heat the non-stick pan used to cook the sausage over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Pour in the minced shallots and garlic, cook for approximately 3 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes.
Return the sausage to the pan along with the cooked pasta and peas. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the mixture and season with salt and pepper. Stir until everything is well incorporated. Cook over medium-low heat until heated through. Remove the pan from the heat and serve with parmesan cheese.

Tips

Reserve a ¼ cup of starchy pasta water before draining the pasta. Stir it into the pasta-sausage mixture for a nice, creamy texture.
If you do not have a microwave, cook the peas in the same boiling water as the pasta. Boil the peas and then use a strainer spoon to remove them. Bring the water back to a boil before cooking the orecchiette pasta.
Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over each pasta serving before sprinkling with parmesan cheese.

A completed recipe of this orecchiette pasta dish, garnished and served in a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. Wait to heat and stir in the peas until ready to serve, they will lose their bright green color otherwise. Reheat in the microwave or in a large non-stick pan with a small amount of olive oil. *If reheating in a pan, keep in mind the pasta may become slightly browned, or caramelized, on the edges.

How should pasta leftovers be stored?

Store any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different type of pasta in this recipe?

Yes, you can certainly use a different variety of pasta. Some of my suggestions include penne, large macaroni, rotini, and farfalle.

Other Recipes You'll Love

Dinner is calling, it's orecchiette with sausage and peas. Ready in 30-minutes and made with affordable ingredients, this recipe is simple and economical. You will not be able to stop eating it because of its addictive spiciness and delicious ingredients!