Not only is this Italian Sausage Pasta Bake beautiful, it is delicious! When I was putting it together I knew it was going to be special!
This wonderful hearty, make-ahead casserole really hits the spot. Full of flavor and easy to make (and freeze) for those hectic or lazy days ahead.
An awesomely tasty dish just right for a snowy evening! Great weeknight meal and makes enough to have as leftovers later in the week.
Be sure to Follow Foodgasm Recipes on Pinterest for more great recipes!
Italian Sausage Pasta Bake
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
I love Italian dishes and this Italian Sausage Pasta Bake is one of my favorites.
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Keyword:
Italian Sausage Pasta Bake
Servings: 6
Calories: 425 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage mild or hot
- olive oil optional
- 2 onions coarsely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 large sweet red pepper coarsely chopped
- 28 ounces meatless extra chunky pasta sauce
- 213 ml can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon fennel seed
- 5 cups penne pasta
- 1 284 g package fresh spinach (trimmed and coarsely chopped)
- 3 cups shredded provolone cheese or 3 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated asiago cheese or 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
-
Cut sausage into 1/2 inch chunks. In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium-high heat, in batches and adding oil if necessary. Transfer sausage to a bowl.
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Pour off any fat from pan. Add onions, garlic and red pepper, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until softened.
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Stir in pasta sauce, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and fennel seeds; bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Return sausage and any accumulated juices to pan; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until sausage is firm throughout.
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Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 6 minutes, add spinach; cook for 1 minute. Drain well and return to pot. Add sausage mixture and provolone/mozzarella cheese; stir to combine well.
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Transfer to 2 greased 8-inch square baking dishes or 1 13x9-inch dish. Sprinkle with Asiago/parmesan cheese. Cover dish with greased foil, greased side down.
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To serve: Bake, covered with foil, in in 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or for 1 hour if from the refrigerator. This freezes beautifully (thaw in refrigerator before baking).
Enjoy this Italian Sausage Pasta Bake!
Up Next:
Be sure to Follow Foodgasm Recipes on Pinterest for more great recipes!
Recipe based on one by Chili Spice
Photo by French Tart