Craving a hearty and flavorful meal? Look no further than this baked penne with sausage, zucchini, and fontina cheese. This delectable dish features succulent Italian sausage, tender zucchini, and gooey fontina cheese, all baked together in a rich tomato sauce. The result is a comforting and satisfying casserole that's perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
In addition to the main recipe, this article also includes a vegetarian variation, a spicy sausage version, and a gluten-free option. So, whether you're a meat lover, a veggie enthusiast, or have dietary restrictions, you'll find a recipe that suits your taste and needs. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, a list of ingredients, and helpful tips to ensure your baked penne turns out perfectly.
BAKED PENNE WITH SAUSAGE, ZUCCHINI, AND FETA
Shake things up on pasta night with baked penne made with chicken sausage, zucchini, and feta. It's a healthier option that the whole family will enjoy.
Provided by Kelli McGrane
Categories Pasta
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F and bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Place penne in boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- While pasta cooks, place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 teaspoon oil.
- Once oil is hot, add crumbled sausage to skillet and cook until starting to brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Return the same skillet to medium-high heat add 1 tablespoon oil. Once oil is hot, add zucchini, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook until zucchini is softened, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Whisk together flour and chicken broth. Add mixture to the pan, stir, and cook another 2 minutes, or until mixture has thickened.
- Add zucchini, cooked sausage, cottage cheese, and about half of the feta to the mixing bowl with the pasta. Stir well to combine.
- Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking oil spray. Pour pasta mixture in the pan. Sprinkle reserved feta on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and pasta is lightly browned on top. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 large scoopful, Calories 466 calories, Sugar 4.2 g, Sodium 880.5 mg, Fat 16.1 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 73.5 g, Fiber 7.1 g, Protein 21.6 g, Cholesterol 55.2 mg
BAKED PENNE WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.
- In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.
- Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.
BAKED SAUSAGE PENNE
I love baked pasta, but wanted to make something a little different from most of the recipes that I saw. I use homemade marinara and homemade pesto, but feel free to use jarred if that's what you have on hand. You can also use chicken or turkey sausage instead of pork if you wish. This was intended to make dinner for two plus leftovers, as there are only two of us in the house, and I wanted it to be easy enough to pull together on a weeknight. Serve with a green salad, garlic bread, and a nice glass of red wine. Cooking time includes prep and resting time.
Provided by IngridH
Categories Penne
Time 55m
Yield 1 casserole, 3 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water; cook the pasta just to al dente. You don't want it mushy, as it will cook more in the oven.
- While pasta is cooking, brown the italian sausage in a saute pan over medium heat, breaking it up into small pieces.
- Drain any accumulated grease and discard.
- Add the marinara sauce, pesto, italian seasoning and chili flakes. Stir, and let simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 -6 minutes, until the sauce comes to a boil.
- Taste, and add salt, pepper, or more italian seasoning as necessary.
- Drain the cooked pasta, and place in a mixing bowl.
- Add the sauce mixture and 3 ounces of the shredded cheese. Stir to combine.
- Coat an 8 x 8 (or similar sized) baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place pasta mixture in the baking dish, spreading to fill the dish evenly.
- Top with the reaining cheeses.
- You could make ahead to this point, and refrigerate until you are ready to cook, but if so, your baking time will be longer.
- Bake, uncovered at 350 for 20 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
BAKED PENNE WITH FONTINA
A friend of mine gave me this recipe (from Tastes of Italia) and I made it for the first time last night for guests. It was a HUGE hit. It's simple and easy to put together. I browned 1# of sweet Italian sausage and added that to the sauce while simmering. I'm a fan of fire roasted tomatoes, so I used those for the small can. The pasta cooking directions were "conflicting" so I modified those. Some of the pine nuts tend to "sneak" into the pasta tubes and you get a delightful little crunch. The only thing I would do different next time is add more red chili pepper flakes for more heat. Made Cheese and Rosemary Breadsticks (#85257) as a side. It was a perfect meal!
Provided by Beaner 2
Categories Penne
Time 38m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x12-inch baking dish with nonfat cooking spray. Set aside.
- Put on a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.
- Toast the pine nuts in a large skillet over medium heat. When pine nuts are golden brown, add olive oil, garlic, salt, and red chile pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes (break up with a spoon) and oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until sauce thickens.
- While sauce is simmering, cook pasta to according to package directions for "firm". Drain and pour pasta into prepared baking dish. Stir in butter to coat. Add sauce and Parmesan cheese and stir well. Top with Fontina cheese and parsley and place in oven.
- Cook, uncovered, for 8 to 9 minutes or until cheese melts.
BAKED PENNE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE
This is a hearty, filling meal that's full of flavor!
Provided by SADIEQQ
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Heat oil in a large, deep skillet. Place sausage and onion in the skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Pour in wine, and cook for 1 minute, stirring, to deglaze the pan. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Toss with cooked pasta, and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle top with mozzarella.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 664.1 calories, Carbohydrate 59.2 g, Cholesterol 81.6 mg, Fat 33.5 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 31 g, SaturatedFat 12.9 g, Sodium 1714.1 mg, Sugar 13.7 g
Tips:
- For a crispier crust, broil the pasta for a few minutes at the end of the baking time.
- If you don't have a large skillet, you can cook the sausage and zucchini in batches.
- If you don't have fontina cheese, you can substitute another type of melting cheese, such as mozzarella or provolone.
- Serve the pasta with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Conclusion:
Baked penne with sausage, zucchini, and fontina is a delicious and easy-to-make pasta dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The sausage and zucchini add flavor and texture, while the fontina cheese melts and creates a creamy sauce. This dish is sure to please everyone at your table.
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