Heavenly Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake Recipe for Dinner

Hearty comfort food takes center stage with this creamy Italian sausage pasta bake that promises pure culinary delight.

Robust Italian sausage mingles with perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, velvety sauce that melts in your mouth.

Every forkful delivers a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate with remarkable depth.

Tender pasta shells capture the savory sauce, creating irresistible bites packed with warmth and satisfaction.

The golden, bubbling cheese topping adds a delectable crunch that elevates this dish from simple to spectacular.

Weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings will never be the same once you master this mouthwatering recipe.

Grab your ingredients and get ready to become the kitchen hero who serves up pure comfort on a plate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 466 kcal

Servings: 7

What You’ll Need for Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

• Pasta: Captures the hearty essence of the dish, choose penne or rigatoni for maximum sauce-holding potential.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and richness, opt for low-sodium varieties to control salt levels.
• Pasta Cooking Water: Secret weapon for perfect sauce consistency, starchy liquid helps bind ingredients.

• Italian Sausage: Delivers robust flavor, select fresh ground sausage with balanced spice profile.
• Onion: Builds foundational flavor, look for firm bulbs without soft spots.
• Garlic: Provides aromatic kick, choose plump cloves with tight, unbroken skin.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tangy undertones, select brands in tubes for freshness.

• Half and Half: Creates luxurious texture, select ultra-pasteurized for longer shelf life.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds sharp, salty notes, choose freshly grated for maximum flavor impact.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Provides stretchy, melty goodness, select low-moisture variety for best melting.
• Dried Herbs: Infuses Mediterranean essence, ensure herbs are fresh and fragrant.
• Diced Tomatoes: Adds moisture and brightness, select fire-roasted for extra depth.
• Olive Oil: Facilitates smooth cooking, choose extra virgin for superior taste.

Tools Checklist for Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

• Large Skillet: Essential for browning sausage and building rich sauce flavors.
• Pot: Perfect for cooking pasta to al dente perfection.
• Wooden Spoon: Great for stirring and breaking up sausage while cooking.
• Measuring Cups: Helps accurately measure broth, pasta water, and half and half.
• Baking Dish: Allows pasta to bake and develop a golden, bubbly top.
• Slotted Spoon: Helps remove sausage while draining excess fat.
• Cheese Grater: Optional for freshly grating Parmesan if using block cheese.
• Cutting Board: Used for chopping onions and preparing ingredients.
• Chef's Knife: Needed for dicing onions and precise ingredient preparation.

Cooking Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake at Home

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the oven to a toasty temperature, creating the perfect environment for a delicious meal.

• Pasta Foundation

Cook the pasta until it reaches that perfect tender-yet-firm texture that makes every bite delightful.

• Sausage Sizzle

Brown the sausage in a skillet, breaking it into delectable crumbles that will add rich flavor to the dish.

• Flavor Base

Sauté onions and garlic, creating an aromatic foundation that will make your kitchen smell incredible.

• Sauce Magic

Combine broth, tomatoes, and herbs to craft a velvety sauce that hugs every pasta curve and sausage morsel.

• Creamy Transformation

Blend in cream and cheese, creating a luxurious coating that transforms the simple ingredients into a comfort food masterpiece.

• Baking Finale

Slide the dish into the oven, letting the heat work its magic and create a golden, bubbling top that promises pure deliciousness.

Creative Additions to Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

• Replace standard mozzarella and Parmesan with smoked gouda, fontina, or pecorino romano for unique, rich cheese undertones that elevate the dish's complexity.
• Fold in roasted bell peppers, spinach, or zucchini during the final mixing stage to add extra nutrition, color, and texture without compromising the creamy sauce's integrity.
• Prepare the entire casserole up to the baking stage, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 10-15 minutes to the cooking time.

Serve Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake in Style

• Pair with Fresh Salad: Toss a crisp green salad with mixed baby greens, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette to balance the rich, creamy pasta bake.
• Create a Wine Companion: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the robust sausage and tomato flavors in the dish.
• Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley on top just before serving to add a bright, aromatic finish and enhance the Italian-inspired meal.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Offer warm, crusty Italian bread or garlic bread on the side to soak up the delicious sauce and complete the hearty dining experience.

Best Ways to Save Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

• Smart Storage Solutions: Transfer leftovers into airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking, ensuring maximum freshness and food safety.
• Quick Refrigeration Strategy: Store the pasta bake in sealed containers for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, maintaining delicious flavor and texture.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Pack individual portions in freezer-safe containers, which stay delicious for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat with Care: Warm individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, adding a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent dryness. Alternatively, reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until thoroughly heated and slightly crispy on top.

Indulgent Italian Sausage Pasta Bake Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Hearty creamy Italian sausage pasta bake delivers comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens. Robust flavors blend seamlessly, promising rich satisfaction for home cooks craving bold, authentic Italian cuisine you’ll savor with passion.

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground Italian sausage
• 12 oz (340 g) penne or fusilli pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsps tomato paste
• ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
• 1 (14.5 oz or 411 g) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• ¾ tsp dried oregano
• ¾ tsp dried basil
• ¾ tsp dried parsley
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ cup (120 ml) half and half or heavy cream
• ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• ⅓ cup (37 g) shredded mozzarella cheese

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375°F (190°C) and simultaneously set a generously salted water pot to boil for pasta.
2. Pasta Cooking: Submerge pasta in rolling boils until achieving al dente texture, extracting and preserving a cup of starchy liquid before draining completely.
3. Sausage Transformation: In a robust skillet, unleash olive oil’s potential over medium heat, crumbling Italian sausage and searing until achieving a caramelized, bronzed exterior with no trace of raw pink.
4. Aromatic Foundation: Using the sausage’s residual fat, sauté onions until translucent, then introduce garlic and tomato paste, stirring vigorously to unlock complex flavor profiles without scorching.
5. Liquid Alchemy: Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, incorporating caramelized remnants, then introduce diced tomatoes and dried herbs, allowing the mixture to reduce and intensify for 5-7 minutes.
6. Creamy Integration: Cascade half and half into the sauce, stirring consistently to create a velvety consistency, then reunite sausage with pasta, ensuring complete sauce envelopment.
7. Cheese Fusion: Generously sprinkle Parmesan and mozzarella, stirring until achieving a seamless, molten integration throughout the pasta mixture.
8. Baking Finale: Transfer the culinary creation to a baking dish, spreading evenly, and bake for 20-25 minutes until the surface erupts with golden-brown bubbling perfection.

Notes

• Pasta Water Magic: Reserved starchy liquid helps create silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every pasta strand.
• Sausage Searing Technique: Cook meat until golden brown to develop deep, caramelized flavor profiles that elevate the entire dish.
• Cheese Melting Tip: Allow cheeses to completely incorporate, creating a luxurious, smooth texture without clumping or separating.
• Oven Browning Secrets: Watch carefully during final baking stage to achieve a beautiful golden-brown top without burning the delicate pasta surface.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 466
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 660 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 24 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg