Description
A comforting and flavorful Cheesy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake combining rigatoni pasta with savory Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, baked to perfection for a hearty family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb. rigatoni pasta, cooked & drained
Sausage & Vegetables
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
Sauce & Cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the pasta dish evenly.
- Cook Sausage & Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and add the ground Italian sausage. Cook it until it’s partially done, stirring frequently to break up the meat. Then add the sliced bell pepper and onion, cooking everything together until the sausage is fully cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Combine Pasta Ingredients: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, add the cooked and drained rigatoni pasta. Mix in the sausage and vegetable mixture along with the marinara sauce and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to your taste and stir everything together until well combined.
- Top & Bake: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
- Garnish & Serve: Once baked, remove the pasta from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy your hearty pasta bake.
Notes
- For a spicier version, use hot Italian sausage instead of mild.
- You can substitute rigatoni with penne or ziti if preferred.
- Adding a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top before baking adds extra flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make it gluten free, use gluten-free pasta.
- For more pasta bake recipes, try Garlicky Kale Sausage & Butternut Squash Pasta Bake, Creamy 3-Cheese Chicken & Garlic Pasta, or Cheesy Chicken & Brussels Sprouts Pasta Bake.
Keywords: Italian sausage pasta bake, cheesy pasta bake, rigatoni bake, baked pasta with sausage, family dinner pasta, easy pasta bake recipe