Description
Hearty dinners welcome this Italian sausage penne bake with robust flavors and comforting textures. Savory sausage, melted cheese, and herb-infused pasta promise a satisfying meal you can easily prepare and enjoy with family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (0.9 kg) hot Italian sausage
- 16 oz (454 g) penne pasta
- 24 oz (680 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 28 fl oz (794 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1.5 tsps basil
- 1.5 tsps oregano
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly grease a 3-quart casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Sausage Sauté: Liberate the Italian sausage from its casing, crumble, and cook thoroughly in a large skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat while preserving a hint of grease.
- Aromatic Base: Sizzle onions and garlic in the reserved sausage drippings until they become translucent and release their fragrant essence.
- Flavor Development: Introduce diced tomatoes, herbs, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Merge the sausage back into the vibrant sauce, allowing it to simmer and intensify for 20-30 minutes.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook penne in salted water until perfectly al dente, then drain and return to the pot.
- Combining Elements: Fold the robust sauce into the pasta, incorporating half the mozzarella until smoothly melted and evenly distributed.
- Layering: Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared dish, strategically sprinkling cheese between layers and across the top.
- Baking: Encase with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, unveiling the final 5-7 minutes to achieve a golden, crispy cheese topping.
- Resting: Allow the dish to settle for 5-10 minutes, enabling easier serving and helping the flavors meld together harmoniously.
Notes
- Optimize Sausage Browning: Break meat into tiny crumbles for even cooking and maximum flavor development.
- Manage Grease Wisely: Reserve a small amount of sausage fat to enhance sauce depth without making the dish overly greasy.
- Master Pasta Texture: Cook penne precisely to al dente stage to prevent mushiness and maintain ideal pasta bite.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Layer cheese gradually and uncover foil near end of baking for perfect golden, crispy cheese topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 468
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg