Description
Simmering Italian sausage pasta bake delivers hearty comfort with layers of melted cheese and robust flavors. Mediterranean ingredients blend perfectly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) fresh Italian sausage, removed from casings
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 1 24-oz (680 g) jar marinara sauce
- 1 cup (225 g) fresh ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (113 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 tbsps (20 g) grated parmesan cheese, divided, plus more for serving
- 5 oz (142 g) baby spinach
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp (3 g) coarsely chopped basil, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Preheat: Set oven to 375°F (190°C) with rack positioned centrally for uniform heating.
- Sausage Preparation: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble Italian sausage, cooking until golden brown and releasing savory oils, then add minced garlic and sauté briefly.
- Vegetable Integration: Incorporate fresh spinach into the sausage mixture, allowing leaves to wilt and blend seamlessly, then pour marinara sauce, stirring to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Pasta Cooking: Simultaneously boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and fold directly into the sausage-marinara mixture, ensuring complete coating.
- Cheese Mixture: Blend ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and black pepper in a separate bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Assembly: Transfer pasta mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spread evenly, then top with dollops of ricotta mixture and a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella.
- Baking: Place in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Serving: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and facilitate easier portioning.
Notes
- Meat Selection Tip: Choose high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor, preferably fresh from a local butcher for maximum taste complexity.
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta just under al dente since it continues cooking in the oven, preventing mushy texture and maintaining ideal pasta consistency.
- Cheese Layering Trick: Distribute ricotta mixture and mozzarella strategically to ensure every bite contains creamy, melted cheese goodness.
- Resting Importance: Allow the dish to rest after baking to stabilize ingredients, enhance flavor melding, and make serving smoother without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 830 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg