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Hearty baked penne with Italian sausage, a perfectly spiced, energy-giving comfort meal.
Hearty penne pasta tossed in a rich, savory tomato sauce with crumbled Italian sausage, then baked under a blanket of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. A perfect comfort food casserole for a family dinner that's easy to assemble and always a crowd-pleaser.
Serving size: 1.5 cups
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Hearty baked penne with Italian sausage, a perfectly spiced, energy-giving comfort meal.
This italian_american dish is perfect for dinner. With 1009.67 calories and 40.98g of protein per serving, it's a nutritious choice for your meal plan.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water and 1 tbsp of salt to a rolling boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage, leaving the drippings in the pan.
Add the chopped onion to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and optional red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute more until fragrant.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to caramelize it. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then add the dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, 1 tsp salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer.
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the sauce simmer for at least 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta with the meat sauce. Gently fold in the ricotta cheese until it's distributed in creamy pockets throughout the pasta.
Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella and 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Top with the remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and 1/4 cup of Parmesan over the top.
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden. For extra browning, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully.
Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. This allows it to set. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Prepare Oven and Bread
Create the Garlic Butter Spread
Assemble the Garlic Bread
Bake to Golden Perfection
Serve Warm
