Description
A hearty and budget-friendly sausage cheese pasta bake featuring penne pasta, savory pork sausages, a rich tomato sauce, and a gooey mozzarella and cheddar cheese topping. Perfect for a comforting family meal that’s easy to prepare and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
Sausage Sauce
- 1.1 pounds budget pork sausages, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 14 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese and Garnish
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- ¾ cup grated cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and allow it to fully preheat while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Add the penne or fusilli pasta and cook until just al dente, usually about 9 to 11 minutes depending on package instructions. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage meat, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for about 5 minutes until nicely browned and cooked through.
- Sauté onion and garlic: Add the finely chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant.
- Simmer sauce: Pour in the canned chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with dried Italian herbs, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Transfer the cooked pasta into a large mixing bowl and mix in the sausage tomato sauce. Stir in half of the mozzarella and half of the cheddar cheese to incorporate.
- Assemble in baking dish: Pour the pasta and sauce mixture into a large baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbling.
- Cool and garnish: Remove from the oven and let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving for a fresh burst of flavor.
Notes
- Use budget pork sausages to keep the cost down without sacrificing flavor.
- Cooking the pasta just until al dente prevents it from becoming mushy during baking.
- Feel free to omit chili flakes for a milder dish or adjust to your spice preference.
- Fresh parsley adds a vibrant touch, but you can substitute with basil or oregano if preferred.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Keywords: sausage pasta bake, budget pasta recipe, cheesy pasta bake, easy family dinner, baked penne, pork sausage pasta, comfort food pasta
