Best 8 Italian Sausage And Pasta Casserole Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey to Italy with our enticing Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole! This hearty and comforting dish is a delightful symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas. Layers of tender pasta, succulent Italian sausage, a medley of colorful vegetables, and a creamy, flavorful sauce come together in a harmonious union that will tantalize your taste buds.

Our selection of recipes offers a diverse range of options to cater to various preferences and dietary needs. The classic Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole is a crowd-pleaser, featuring a rich tomato-based sauce, ground Italian sausage, and a blend of cheeses. For those seeking a healthier alternative, the Lightened Up Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole offers a guilt-free indulgence with lean sausage, low-fat cheese, and a lighter sauce.

Vegetarians will delight in the Vegetarian Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole, where meatless sausage and an array of vegetables take center stage. And for a unique twist on a classic, the Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole with Pesto Sauce introduces a vibrant green pesto sauce, adding a burst of freshness and herbaceousness to the dish.

Each recipe is meticulously crafted with detailed instructions and helpful tips to ensure success in your culinary adventure. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a delightful journey to the heart of Italian cuisine with our Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole recipes. Buon Appetito!

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN SAUSAGE PASTA BAKE



Italian Sausage Pasta Bake image

This easy Italian sausage pasta bake is true comfort food! It's cheesy and packed with amazing sausage and marinara flavors. It's also a make-ahead and freezer-friendly recipe!

Provided by Tania

Categories     Main Course

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound dried penne pasta
1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
4 cloves garlic, minced
Olive oil for pan
2 (24 oz) jars store-bought marinara sauce (your favorite brand)
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (plus more to taste)
¼ cup chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
½ cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a large pot with generously salted water, cook pasta according to instructions until al dente. Drain and transfer pasta back into the pot. Tip: Cook pasta until al dente (aka cooked until it's still a little bit firm when bitten) since it will continue cooking in the oven later.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 679 kcal, Carbohydrate 51 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 38 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, Cholesterol 105 mg, Sodium 1262 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, UnsaturatedFat 17 g

PENNE & SAUSAGE CASSEROLES



Penne & Sausage Casseroles image

Cheese, sausage and mushrooms make this casserole a consistent hit. It comes together quickly and feeds a crowd, too. -John Venturino, Concord, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 2 casseroles (8 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 14

1-1/2 pounds uncooked penne pasta
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1-1/2 cups dry red wine or beef broth, divided
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes, cut up
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup beef broth
4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
4 cups shredded fontina cheese
Minced fresh parsley, optional

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside., In the same Dutch oven, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic and oregano; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in 1 cup wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, sausage and remaining wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes., Drain pasta. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in each of two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Divide half of the pasta between the dishes; layer each with 2-1/2 cups sauce and 1 cup each of the cheeses. Repeat layers., Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 460 calories, Fat 21g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 59mg cholesterol, Sodium 756mg sodium, Carbohydrate 41g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 24g protein.

BAKED PENNE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE



Baked Penne with Italian Sausage image

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

1 (12 ounce) package dry penne pasta
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 cup chopped onion
½ cup white wine
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

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

ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PASTA CASSEROLE



Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole image

This is a super-easy, super-quick casserole dish that I came up with last week. I used Italian turkey sausage that my husband had grilled while we were barbecuing the day before. I also used wheat rotini pasta, but I think any kind of pasta would work. The rest of the quantities are just estimates ... you could use more or less depending on your tastes. I used whole cumin, fennel, thyme, and rosemary and lightly ground them with a pestle, but you could also use pre-ground. My husband, who is not usually a casserole lover, has been raving about this ever since, and my daughter, who usually hates zucchini, cleaned her plate without even a mention of it.

Provided by mamabear22

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 35m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

13 1/2 ounces pasta (any kind)
1 lb sweet Italian turkey sausage
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium zucchini, sliced thin
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dry basil
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
1 cup feta cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Prepare pasta as directed, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
  • As pasta is cooking, cook Italian sausage as desired. (I like to pre-cook sausages, as they are easier to cut once they are already cooked.).
  • After sausages are cooked, remove from pan and set aside.
  • In a large pan, saute onion, peppers, zucchini, and garlic in olive oil until opaque.
  • Season with cumin, thyme, basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  • Slice sausages into bite-size pieces, then add sausages, tomatoes, and pasta to the vegetables and stir.
  • Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray and transfer entire mixture into dish.
  • Top with feta cheese.
  • Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until cheese starts to melt.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 379.5, Fat 13.3, SaturatedFat 5.4, Cholesterol 46.4, Sodium 843.6, Carbohydrate 46.9, Fiber 4, Sugar 7.3, Protein 18.6

SAUSAGE PASTA CASSEROLE



Sausage Pasta Casserole image

Provided by Nancy Fuller

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the baking dish
Kosher salt
1 pound rigatoni
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from the casings
1 medium onion, sliced
1 medium bulb fennel, trimmed, cored and sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Brush a shallow 3-quart baking dish with olive oil. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until very al dente; you still want it to retain a little bite. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Drain well.
  • Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the sausage and cook and crumble with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Add the onion and fennel; cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and season with salt. Bring to a simmer and add the cream. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water from the pasta. Turn up the heat to medium high and simmer rapidly to thicken the sauce and blend the flavors, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the rigatoni and basil and toss to coat the pasta with the sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in half each of the mozzarella and parmesan. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Bake until browned and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA



Cheesy Baked Pasta With Sausage and Ricotta image

Like a cross between baked ziti and sausage lasagna, this mozzarella-topped pasta is rich with ricotta and crushed tomatoes - and cooks entirely in one pan, including the pasta. The Italian sausage adds meaty depth to the sauce, but vegetarians can leave it out or use their favorite plant-based sausage instead.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     easy, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 pound bulk hot or mild Italian sausage (pork, chicken or turkey)
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, coarsely crushed
Pinch of red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving (optional)
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
1 (14-ounce) can crushed or strained tomatoes
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt
12 ounces dried pasta, such as small shells, farfalle or other shaped pasta
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
6 ounces whole-milk ricotta (about 3/4 cup)
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup basil leaves
Black pepper, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
  • Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
  • Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE CASSEROLE



Italian Sausage Casserole image

At the start of each week, my family is already looking forward to our traditional weekend breakfasts, when I serve warm and wonderful dishes such as this. The make-ahead convenience lets me relax with the family as the savory aroma fills the house. -Nancy Robinson, Kansas City, Kansas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Breakfast     Brunch

Time 1h15m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound bulk pork sausage
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion
2-1/2 cups onion and garlic croutons
8 large eggs
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 to 4 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, cook sausage, green pepper, mushrooms and onion until meat is browned and vegetables are tender; drain. Place croutons in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with sausage mixture. Beat eggs and milk; pour over sausage. , Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 min. , Sprinkle with the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Place tomato slices over top; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 329 calories, Fat 24g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 195mg cholesterol, Sodium 643mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

SAUSAGE PASTA CASSEROLE



Sausage Pasta Casserole image

"This recipe is so flexible," says Shirley Howden of Essexville, Michigan. "You can use beef or Italian sausage, and your favorite vegetables and cheese." It's also easy to double for company.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 35m

Yield 3 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 uncooked lasagna noodles
1/3 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, cook the beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Drain and rinse pasta in cold water. Cut pasta into 3-in. pieces. Stir the pasta, sausage and spaghetti sauce into meat mixture., Transfer to an 8x4-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with cheeses. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 303 calories, Fat 10g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 60mg cholesterol, Sodium 879mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

Tips:

  • Selecting the Right Pasta: Opt for short pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or shells that hold the sauce well and won't overcook.
  • Preparing the Italian Sausage: Remove the sausage from its casing and break it into small crumbles. Cook it over medium heat until browned and crispy.
  • Building Flavorful Sauce: Sauté chopped onions, garlic, and bell peppers until softened, then add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and a touch of red pepper flakes for a vibrant sauce.
  • Combining Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sausage, sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix well to ensure even distribution.
  • Baking the Casserole: Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and top with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Conclusion:

This Italian Sausage and Pasta Casserole is a culinary delight that offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Its combination of savory sausage, tangy sauce, creamy ricotta, and al dente pasta creates a symphony of tastes and aromas. Whether you're feeding a crowd or simply craving a comforting dish, this casserole is sure to satisfy. The versatile nature of the recipe allows for customization, so feel free to experiment with different types of pasta or add vegetables like spinach or zucchini for a healthier twist. Enjoy this dish as a main course or pair it with a crisp side salad for a complete meal.

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