Description
A comforting and bold baked pasta dish layered with spicy sausage, rich tomato sauce, gooey melted cheese, and a hint of heat. Spicy Pasta Bake is perfect for cozy dinners, meal prep, or feeding a hungry crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
- 12 oz spicy sausage (cooked and sliced)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh basil or parsley (chopped, for garnish)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta in salted water 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant.
- Add sausage and cook until browned. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with sauce, half the mozzarella, and half the parmesan.
- Transfer to baking dish and top with remaining cheeses.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10–15 more minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5 minutes, garnish with herbs, and serve hot.
Notes
- Undercook pasta slightly to keep it from getting mushy during baking.
- Use freshly grated cheese for better melt and flavor.
- Add veggies for more texture and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg