Baked Penne with Sausage is one of my all-time favorite sausage pasta bakes. I've made it more times than I can count, and it turns out perfect every single time!
The homemade pasta sauce in this recipe really shines. It uses just a few pantry staples you probably already have on hand, it's easy, flavorful and is the perfect sauce for this baked pasta!
You might also enjoy these weeknight friendly recipes: Baked Rigatoni or this Chicken Alfredo Casserole!
Table of contents
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Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Penne Pasta - My go-to for baked pasta, but rotini, rigatoni, or shells work beautifully with this recipe.
- Ground Italian Sausage - I use mild, but sweet, spicy, or even links (cooked and sliced) all taste fantastic.
- Tomato Sauce & Diced Tomatoes - The base of the homemade pasta sauce. Or you can substitute with your favorite pasta sauce.
- Mozzarella & Parmesan - The perfect topping for this sausage pasta casserole!
How To Make Baked Penne with Sausage
This recipe comes together in a few simple steps.
I always like to start by getting the pasta water going, that way the noodles are ready just as the sauce comes together.
While the pasta cooks to al dente, I brown the sausage in a big skillet. The onions get cooked with the sausage and once they are done cooking, I add in the garlic and cook just until it's fragrant.
The tomato sauce and diced tomatoes are stirred in along with the seasonings. I like to turn the heat down to low and let it simmer away for about 20 minutes to really let the flavor build. Once it is done it gets removed from the heat and the pasta is stirred right into the pan.
I transfer everything to my baking dish and top it with all of the cheese. After that it goes straight into the oven until bubbly and golden.
A garnish of fresh basil is always a great way to finish this delicious pasta! Enjoy!
Tips
- The secret to the best tasting sauce is giving it time to simmer. That's where the sauce develops rich flavor, so don't rush this step.
- When cooking the pasta aim for al dente. Since it bakes in the oven, al dente pasta will keep its texture instead of getting mushy.
- If you love a browned cheesy casserole top, don't skip the broiler at the end. Just a couple of minutes makes the cheese golden and bubbly!
- This sausage pasta casserole is also make-ahead friendly. Assemble it, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate up to a day in advance. Just let it come up to room temp and replace the plastic wrap with foil before baking.
As a busy mom, I know how important it is to have recipes that are both reliable and delicious. And that is exactly what this baked pasta with sausage is. It's the kind of fuss free and comforting dish I love making for my family. I hope you give it a try and make it a regular in your own kitchen.
-Sky🩷
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📖 Recipe
Baked Penne with Sausage
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 ounces penne pasta cooked to al dente
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 16 ounces mild italian sausage ground
- ½ cup onions small diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 29 ounces tomato sauce
- 14.5 ounces petite diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into crumbles. When the sausage is about halfway cooked, stir in the onions and continue cooking until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
- Now add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, dried basil and dried oregano. reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the al dente pasta. Transfer to a 9x13 baking dish and top with the mozzarella and parmesan. Cover with foil and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes until golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil if desired. Enjoy!
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