Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake delivers comfort and classic Italian flavors in one hearty dish. Melted cheese, spicy sausage, and rich marinara sauce blend perfectly to create a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
Main Carbohydrates:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) penne or fusilli pasta
Seasonings and Dairy:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 ounces or 411 grams) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- ¾ teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) half and half or heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup (37 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) while preparing a large pot of salted water for pasta cooking.
- Cook pasta in boiling water until perfectly tender, following package instructions. Carefully extract and reserve of pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, then crumble Italian sausage into the pan, cooking until meat loses its pink coloration and develops a rich, golden exterior.
- Transfer sausage to a separate plate using a slotted spoon, leaving behind flavorful rendered fat in the skillet.
- Sauté diced onions in the same skillet until they become translucent and soft, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and tomato paste, stirring continuously to prevent burning and release aromatic flavors, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
- Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, scraping up caramelized bits from the pan’s bottom to incorporate deep, complex flavors.
- Introduce diced tomatoes with their natural juices and dried herbs, allowing the mixture to simmer and reduce, thickening for 5-7 minutes.
- Gently pour half and half into the sauce, stirring consistently and cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust sauce consistency using reserved pasta water if needed, creating perfect texture and coverage.
- Reintroduce cooked sausage to the skillet, then fold in cooked pasta, ensuring complete sauce coating.
- Sprinkle Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses into the mixture, stirring until cheeses melt completely and distribute evenly.
- Transfer the entire pasta blend into a baking dish, spreading it uniformly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, watching for a bubbling, golden-brown surface indicating perfect doneness.
Notes
- Quick-cooking tip: Reserve pasta water before draining to help adjust sauce consistency and create silky texture.
- Sausage selection matters: Choose high-quality Italian sausage for richer, more authentic flavor profile.
- Skillet technique saves time: Use the same pan to build layers of flavor, from sausage to sauce, minimizing cleanup.
- Cheese melting secret: Mix Parmesan and mozzarella directly into sauce for smooth, even distribution and enhanced creaminess.
- Baking magic transforms dish: Oven time allows ingredients to meld together, creating a golden, crispy top and bubbling sauce.
- Versatile meal prep: Easily make ahead and refrigerate before baking, perfect for busy weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 465 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg