Description
A comforting and hearty Italian-American baked pasta dish featuring penne pasta, savory Italian sausage, a rich marinara sauce, and a blend of creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella cheeses, topped with Parmesan for a golden crust.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Sausage Mixture
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheeses
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pasta casserole.
- Cook Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the penne pasta until just al dente, about 1 minute less than package instructions recommend. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool slightly.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add Sauce and Seasonings: Stir in the marinara sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the cooked penne pasta, sausage and sauce mixture, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, ensuring everything is evenly coated.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and pour in the pasta mixture. Spread evenly, then top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired to add a fresh touch.
Notes
- Use spicy Italian sausage if you prefer a kick of heat in this dish.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the sausage.
- This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated; if baking cold, add an extra 10 minutes to the bake time.
