A filling pasta bake with sausage, cheese, and tomato sauce, perfect for a satisfying family meal.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
→ Sausage
02 - 1.1 pounds budget pork sausages, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 14 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
11 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
12 - ¾ cup grated cheddar cheese
→ Garnish (optional)
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to preheat.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage meat and break up with a spoon, cooking until browned, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add finely chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
05 - Pour in chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with dried Italian herbs, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the sausage sauce. Mix in half of the mozzarella and half of the cheddar cheese.
07 - Transfer the mixture into a large baking dish and evenly sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar over the top.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
