Best 7 Italian Sausage Macaroni Bake Recipes

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Indulge in a hearty and flavorful Italian Sausage Macaroni Bake, a delectable dish that combines the richness of Italian sausage, the comforting texture of macaroni, and a symphony of tantalizing seasonings. This delectable casserole is a perfect blend of savory and satisfying, making it a hit at family gatherings, potlucks, or as a cozy weeknight meal. With variations ranging from a classic tomato-based sauce to a creamy Alfredo version, and even a vegetarian option, this versatile dish caters to diverse tastes and dietary preferences. Prepare to embark on a culinary journey as we explore the depths of flavor in each recipe, ensuring a memorable and satisfying dining experience.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

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

SAUSAGE MACARONI BAKE



Sausage Macaroni Bake image

Everyone's bound to want seconds of this satisfying Italian-style bake from Kelli Bucy of Red Oak, Iowa. Oregano seasons the pork sausage, macaroni and tomato sauce mixture that's topped with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. "It really hits the spot when you want a quick not-so-big-meal," Kelli suggests.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 pound bulk pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the green pepper, onion, oregano and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes., Stir in macaroni and 2 tablespoons cheese. Transfer to an ungreased 1-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 379 calories, Fat 24g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 49mg cholesterol, Sodium 1174mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 17g protein.

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.

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

SAUSAGE PASTA BAKE



Sausage pasta bake image

An Italian-American classic, this freezable sausage pasta bake is an ideal make-ahead family dish for busy days

Provided by Barney Desmazery

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 13

400g rigatoni or penne
125g ball mozzarella, chopped into chunks
2 tbsp olive oil
6 pork sausages
4 garlic cloves, sliced
pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp plain flour
350ml milk
50g parmesan, grated, plus extra to serve

Steps:

  • To make the ragu, heat the oil in a large shallow pan or flameproof casserole. Squeeze the sausagemeat from its skins in small balls straight into the pan. Sizzle for 10 mins until browned (don't worry if the meat breaks up). Add the garlic and sizzle for another minute until starting to turn golden, then stir in the chilli flakes, if using, the tomato purée and vinegar. Tip in the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and bubble for 30 mins.
  • Meanwhile, make the white sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour to make a loose paste. Sizzle for a minute, then gradually whisk in the milk. Simmer gently for 10 mins, whisking occasionally to ensure the sauce stays smooth. Season and whisk in the parmesan. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling water for 9 mins, or a minute less than pack instructions. Drain and return to the pan. Scrape most of the white sauce into the pasta and stir to coat. Tip in most of the ragu and most of the mozzarella and stir until just combined. Pour the pasta mixture into a large baking dish and spoon over the remaining white sauce and ragu. Dot with the rest of the mozzarella and sprinkle with extra parmesan. Leave to cool completely, then wrap and chill for up to a day, or freeze for up to two months. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hrs before baking.
  • Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Bake for 25-30 mins until the top is slightly crisp at the edges and the cheese is melted. Leave to rest for 5-10 mins, then take the baking dish straight to the table for people to scoop onto their plates.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 883 calories, Fat 39 grams fat, SaturatedFat 17 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 94 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 36 grams protein, Sodium 1.4 milligram of sodium

MAKE AHEAD ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND PASTA BAKE



Make Ahead Italian Sausage and Pasta Bake image

This wonderful hearty, make ahead casserole really hits the spot. full of flavor, easy to make (and freeze) for those hectic or lazy days ahead.

Provided by CHILI SPICE

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 50m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage (mild or hot)
olive oil (optional)
2 onions, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 large sweet red pepper, coarsely chopped
28 ounces meatless extra chunky pasta sauce
213 ml can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon fennel seed
5 cups penne pasta
1 (284 g) package fresh spinach (trimmed and coarsely chopped)
3 cups shredded provolone cheese or 3 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated asiago cheese or 1 cup parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cut sausage into 1/2 inch chunks. I large skillet, brown sausage over medium-high heat, in batches and adding oil if necessary. Transfer sausage to a bowl.
  • Pour off any fat from pan. Add onions, garlic and red pepper, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pasta sauce, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and fennel seeds; bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Return sausage and any accumulated juices to pan; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until sausage is firm throughout.
  • Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 6 minutes, add spinach;cook for 1 minute. Drain well and return to pot. Add sausage mixture and provolone/mozzarella cheese; stir to combine well.
  • Transfer to 2 greased 8-inch square baking dishes or 1 13x9-inch dish. Sprinkle with Asiago/parmesan cheese. Cover dish with greased foil, greased side down.
  • To serve: Bake, covered with foil, in in 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or for 1 hour if from the refrigerator. This freezes beautifully (thaw in refrigerator before baking).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 833.6, Fat 41.1, SaturatedFat 17.7, Cholesterol 84.9, Sodium 2096.9, Carbohydrate 79.3, Fiber 12.5, Sugar 14.3, Protein 37.9

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.

Tips:

  • For a richer flavor, use Italian sausage with a higher fat content.
  • If you don't have a baking dish, you can use a large skillet.
  • Be sure to cook the macaroni al dente, so that it doesn't get mushy in the baking dish.
  • Add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese to the top of the casserole before baking for a golden brown crust.
  • Serve the casserole with a side salad or crusty bread.

Conclusion:

This Italian Sausage Macaroni Bake is a hearty and flavorful dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you like your pasta dishes cheesy, spicy, or meaty, this casserole has something for everyone. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this Italian Sausage Macaroni Bake a try.

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