Description
This Easy Baked Penne with Sausage is a comforting and hearty Italian-inspired pasta casserole perfect for a family dinner. Al dente penne pasta is combined with savory browned Italian sausage, aromatic garlic, and a flavorful marinara sauce, then topped with a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses before baking to a golden bubbly perfection. A simple yet satisfying meal ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound uncooked penne pasta
Sausage Mixture
- 16 ounces Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Cheeses
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and position the oven rack in the top third to ensure even baking and cheese browning.
- Cook Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Add the penne pasta and cook it for 2 minutes less than the package instructions specify to keep it slightly firm. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Brown Sausage and Onion: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and chopped onion, cooking while stirring occasionally until the sausage is nicely browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. If there is excess fat rendered, carefully spoon out most of it.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic into the sausage and onion mixture and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine with Marinara: Pour in the marinara sauce along with the crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Cook for a few minutes until the sauce is warmed through and well combined with the sausage mixture.
- Mix Pasta and Sauce: Pour the sausage and sauce mixture over the pasta in the baking dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated, then spread it out into an even layer.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella or cheddar and grated parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Broil for Browning: Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to brown the cheese without burning. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can use mild, sweet, or spicy Italian sausage according to your preference.
- For a lower-fat version, use turkey sausage and reduce the amount of cheese or use part-skim varieties.
- If you like your pasta a bit saucier, add a little extra marinara sauce before mixing with the pasta.
- Be attentive during broiling as cheese can burn quickly.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
