🍽️

Baked Penne with Italian Sausage

Course
Dinner
Servings

4

Tips & Tricks:

  • 🔪 Skip steps with knife if you completed the prep ideas!
  • 🥄 Red Sauce ingredients are not included in the shopping list! Be sure to add them if you choose to make it rather than buying pre-made.
  • 👯‍♀️ Double this recipe and bake in a 9x13 dish. This meal is great to enjoy with friends and family, and is delicious as leftovers too!
  • ❌ Want to make this recipe GF? Use your favorite GF pasta!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (24oz) jar of your favorite pasta sauce (if you’re not making your own)
  • 1/2 lb package dry penne pasta (or other GF pasta)
  • 1 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup parmesan

[Optional Red Sauce]

Directions:

  1. 🔪 Veg and Cheese Prep (can be done up to 3 days ahead)
    1. Small dice the onion.
    2. Shred the cheeses if you did not purchase them pre-shredded.
  2. 🔪 Oven and Pasta Prep (Pasta can be made up to 3 days ahead)
    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
    3. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente (not quite done, the pasta still has a bite); drain.
  3. Sausage and Sauce
    1. Heat oil in a large pot, or dutch oven.
    2. Remove sausage from casing if you purchased links. Place sausage and onion in the pot and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown.
    3. Drain excess fat.
    4. Add red sauce and 1/2 of the parmesan to the pot with the sausage.
    5. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    6. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, and toss to combine.
    7. Scoop everything in the pot into an oiled 8x8 inch (or similar) baking dish.
    8. Sprinkle the rest of the parmesan and mozzarella over the top.
    9. Bake in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  4. Serve
    1. Scoop your desired serving and optionally top with more parmesan and red pepper flakes.

Reheat Options

  1. Reheat in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling.
  2. Or in a microwave safe plate, microwave covered with a damp paper towel, for 2-3 minutes.