A family-friendly pasta bake with sausage, cheese, and tomato sauce, great for easy, budget-friendly meals.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb penne or fusilli pasta
→ Sausage
02 - 1.1 lb pork sausages, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
08 - ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
10 - Salt and black 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 (200°C) to prepare for baking.
02 - Boil 1 lb of pasta in salted water until just tender (al dente). Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage meat, breaking it up, and cook 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 1 more minute.
05 - Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, dried Italian herbs, chili flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
06 - Mix the cooked pasta with the sausage sauce in a large bowl. Fold in half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Evenly sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top.
08 - Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Allow the dish to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
