Description
Hearty Italian sausage and colorful pepper pasta bake combines robust flavors with comfort food charm. Rich layers of pasta, sausage, and peppers create a satisfying meal sure to please dinner companions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage or hot turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1 lb penne, cavatappi, or rotini pasta
- 6 oz freshly grated mild Gouda (may substitute cheddar)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup half and half (or milk whisked with 1 ½ tsp cornstarch)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, ½-inch chop
- 1 yellow bell pepper, ½-inch chop
- 1 orange bell pepper, ½-inch chop
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon (granulated, cube, or base)
- 1 ½ tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional for spicy)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) with rack centered for uniform heating.
- Pasta Cooking: Salt boiling water and cook pasta until al dente, then drain and reserve.
- Sausage Browning: Crumble Italian sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat, cooking until golden and fully cooked, then drain excess fat on paper towels.
- Vegetable Sautéing: In the same skillet, caramelize bell peppers and onions until tender, then briefly sauté garlic until aromatic.
- Sauce Creation: Incorporate marinara sauce with sautéed vegetables and browned sausage, seasoning with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer briefly to meld flavors.
- Assembly: Layer pasta in baking dish, pour sausage-vegetable sauce evenly over top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Cheese Topping: Generously sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the surface, creating a complete cheese layer.
- Baking: Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly crust.
- Finishing: Rest pasta bake for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh basil, and serve hot alongside optional side salad or garlic bread.
Notes
- Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select high-quality Italian sausage and vibrant bell peppers for maximum flavor and color in your pasta bake.
- Perfect Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness when baking, ensuring a perfect bite every time.
- Drain and Absorb Excess Grease: Use paper towels to remove extra fat from cooked sausage, keeping the dish lighter and preventing an overly greasy result.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Allow cheese to become golden and bubbly for a delicious crispy top layer that adds incredible texture and visual appeal to the dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 63 mg