Italian Sausage Pasta Bake
A hearty and delicious Italian Sausage Pasta Bake, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes, canned
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.5 teaspoon fennel seed
- 0.5 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon pepper
- 10 ounces frozen green peas
- 12 ounces penne or ziti pasta, dry
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet over medium heat, crumble the Italian sausage and brown it for about 5 minutes until no longer pink. Use a wooden spoon to break up the sausage for even cooking.
- Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook for another 3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seed, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the frozen green peas and remove the sauce from heat.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta in the large bowl and stir to combine. Mix in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a large casserole dish and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling.
- Garnish with parsley or basil if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
For a spicier kick, use hot Italian sausage instead of mild.