Savory Italian Sausage Penne Bake Recipe: Family Favorite in Minutes

Robust Italian sausage penne bake crafts ordinary ingredients into a mouthwatering culinary experience that promises comfort and satisfaction.

Hearty meat blends seamlessly with perfectly cooked pasta, creating a harmonious dish packed with bold Mediterranean flavors.

Layers of savory goodness promise a delightful meal for families and friends gathering around the dinner table.

Creamy cheese melts luxuriously between tender pasta tubes, infusing each bite with rich, indulgent warmth.

Aromatic herbs and spices dance through the casserole, elevating simple components into a memorable dining adventure.

Versatile enough for weeknight dinners yet impressive for casual entertaining, this recipe offers a perfect balance of convenience and gourmet appeal.

Incredibly satisfying and relatively straightforward to prepare, you’ll find yourself craving this irresistible combination of textures and tastes.

Try These Scallop Variations

• Select Sausage Wisely: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavors, preferably from a local butcher for maximum taste and authenticity.
• Control Moisture Levels: Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent a greasy dish and ensure a perfect texture in the final bake.
• Cheese Melting Technique: Let cheese melt gradually by stirring continuously and using medium-low heat to achieve smooth, creamy consistency.
• Pasta Doneness Matters: Cook penne al dente to prevent mushy texture, as pasta will continue cooking slightly during the baking process.
• Layering Strategy: Create even cheese distribution by spreading layers carefully, ensuring every bite contains a perfect blend of sausage, pasta, and melted cheese.

Italian Sausage Penne Leftovers – How to Deal With

• Refrigeration: Transfer the cooled Italian Sausage Penne Bake into an airtight container or tightly covered baking dish. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain optimal freshness and flavor.
• Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating. Alternatively, reheat the entire dish in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent moisture loss and preserve the cheese's creamy texture.
• Freezing: Wrap the completely cooled casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Why You’ll Love Sausage Penne Bake

• Savor Red Wine Companions: Pair this hearty Italian sausage penne bake with robust red wines like Chianti or Sangiovese, which complement the rich, spicy sausage and tomato flavors perfectly.
• Create Fresh Salad Balance: Serve a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette alongside the dish to cut through the richness and provide a refreshing contrast to the warm, cheesy pasta.
• Match Crusty Bread Sides: Offer warm, crusty garlic bread or focaccia to soak up the delicious tomato sauce and add textural variety to the meal.
• Enhance with Herbal Garnish: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley on top just before serving to brighten the flavors and add a touch of freshness to the baked pasta.

What’s Inside Sausage Penne Bake

• Spicy Chorizo Fusion: Replace Italian sausage with spicy chorizo, adding jalapeños and red pepper flakes for an extra kick of heat.
• Mediterranean Veggie Blend: Swap sausage for roasted zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers, incorporating feta cheese and kalamata olives for a plant-based version.
• Creamy Chicken Transformation: Substitute sausage with shredded rotisserie chicken, mixing in cream cheese and using a blend of parmesan and mozzarella for a richer texture.
• Seafood Mediterranean Edition: Use cooked shrimp or crab meat instead of sausage, adding fresh herbs like dill and parsley, and incorporating a splash of white wine for depth of flavor.

Tips for Golden Scallops

• Savor Hearty Flavor Explosion: This Italian sausage penne bake delivers a robust taste experience with perfectly seasoned sausage, tangy tomatoes, and melted mozzarella that dance together in every single bite.
• Enjoy Incredibly Simple Preparation: Home cooks can effortlessly craft this dish with straightforward steps, minimal kitchen skills required, and basic ingredients that come together quickly for a satisfying meal.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: This one-pan wonder transforms classic Italian ingredients into a warm, cheesy casserole perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or weeknight meals that guarantee smiles around the dinner table.

Store and Reheat Scallops

• Italian Sausage: Rich and flavorful meat that provides the main protein base for the dish.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy cheese that melts beautifully and adds a smooth, rich texture to the bake.

• Onions: Aromatic vegetable that adds depth and sweetness to the sauce.
• Garlic: Pungent ingredient that enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
• Diced Tomatoes: Fresh ingredient that creates a hearty and tangy sauce base.

• Basil: Fragrant herb that brings a classic Italian flavor to the dish.
• Oregano: Traditional Italian herb that adds a warm, slightly bitter note.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance the overall taste.

• Penne Pasta: Classic pasta shape that holds sauce well and provides a satisfying texture.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Helps prevent sticking and makes dish cleanup easier.
• Foil: Covers the dish during baking to prevent excessive browning.

Serve Garlic Scallops With These

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Dish

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 3-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

• Remove sausage from its casing
• Crumble into a large skillet
• Cook over medium heat until fully cooked
• Drain excess grease, keeping Step 3: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables
• Return of sausage grease to skillet
• Add
• Diced onions
• Minced garlic
• Cook until onions become soft and translucent

Step 4: Create Flavorful Sauce

• Stir in
• Diced tomatoes
• Basil
• Oregano
• Salt
• Pepper
• Simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat

Step 5: Develop Sauce Depth

• Return cooked sausage to skillet
• Bring mixture to a boil
• Reduce heat
• Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally

Step 6: Cook Perfect Pasta

• Boil penne according to package instructions
• Drain
• Return to pan

Step 7: Combine Pasta and Sauce

• Mix pasta with sausage mixture
• Add half of mozzarella cheese
• Stir until cheese melts completely

Step 8: Layer the Bake

• Spread half of pasta-meat mixture in casserole dish
• Sprinkle some cheese
• Add remaining pasta mixture
• Top with remaining cheese
• Cover with foil

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes
• Remove foil in last few minutes for golden top
• Cheese should be bubbly and heated through

Enjoy your delicious Italian Sausage Penne Bake!

Italian Sausage Penne Bake Recipe

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4.9 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Savory Italian sausage penne bake delivers robust flavors from hearty ingredients and classic Mediterranean spices. Creamy cheese, zesty tomato sauce, and perfectly seasoned sausage create a comforting meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds hot Italian sausage
• 16 ounces (454 grams) penne pasta
• 24 ounces (680 grams) mozzarella cheese, shredded

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings and Liquid Ingredients:

• 28 ounces (794 grams) can diced tomatoes
• 1.5 teaspoons basil
• 1.5 teaspoons oregano
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and coat a 3-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release.
2. Extract the Italian sausage from its casing and place in a large skillet. Break the meat into small crumbles while cooking over medium heat until completely browned and cooked through.
3. Drain excess fat from the skillet, but reserve of sausage grease for additional flavor.
4. Return the reserved grease to the skillet and sauté finely diced onions and minced garlic until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
5. Incorporate diced tomatoes, fresh basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper into the onion and garlic mixture. Simmer over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes to develop rich flavors.
6. Reintroduce the cooked sausage to the tomato mixture, bringing the contents to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, cover, and allow the sauce to simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring intermittently.
7. Meanwhile, cook penne pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and return to the cooking pot.
8. Fold the sausage and tomato sauce into the pasta, blending well. Mix in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and evenly distributed.
9. Layer half of the pasta and meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle a portion of the remaining cheese over this layer.
10. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the final layer of mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly. For a golden, crispy top, remove the foil during the last 5-7 minutes of baking.
12. Allow the Italian sausage penne bake to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to help the dish set and make portioning easier.

Notes

• Maximize flavor by using high-quality Italian sausage and freshly grated mozzarella for a rich, authentic taste experience.
• Reserve sausage grease to sauté onions and garlic, enhancing the dish’s depth and complexity without adding extra fat.
• Simmer the tomato and sausage mixture low and slow to develop intense, harmonious flavors that will permeate every bite.
• Choose al dente pasta to prevent mushy texture and ensure the perfect bite throughout the casserole.
• Cover with foil during initial baking to prevent cheese from burning and maintain moisture in the dish.
• Let the baked casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven to allow flavors to settle and make serving easier.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 585 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 980 mg
• Fat: 38 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg