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A serving of sausage pasta bake with meat sauce and melted cheese on a white plate with a fork.
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Sausage Pasta Bake

Crumbled Italian sausage simmers in marinara, then joins penne under a bubbly layer of cheese in the oven for an easy, family-friendly sausage pasta bake.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main, Main Course, Pasta, Snacks
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword dinner, lunch, main, main course, pasta, snack
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 438kcal
Author Ksenia Prints

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dry pasta penne or rigatoni
  • 1 pound Italian sausage mild or spicy, casings removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1½ cups shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and onion and cook, breaking up the sausage, until browned and cooked through. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  • Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Combine the cooked pasta with the sausage sauce, then transfer to the prepared baking dish.
  • Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  • Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Cook the pasta just al dente. It continues to soften in the oven and turns mushy if fully cooked first.
  • Mild or spicy Italian sausage both work. Spicy sausage adds heat without any extra seasoning needed.
  • To make ahead, assemble the bake without the cheese, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add the cheese and bake, adding 5 to 10 minutes if going in cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1413mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 759IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 256mg | Iron: 2mg