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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and coat a 3-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy release.
- 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.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, but reserve of sausage grease for additional flavor.
- Return the reserved grease to the skillet and sauté finely diced onions and minced garlic until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- 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.
- 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.
- Meanwhile, cook penne pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and return to the cooking pot.
- Fold the sausage and tomato sauce into the pasta, blending well. Mix in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and evenly distributed.
- Layer half of the pasta and meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle a portion of the remaining cheese over this layer.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the final layer of mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- 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.
- 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