Hearty pasta bake with savory sausage, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese, ideal for family dinners on a budget.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
→ Sausage
02 - 1.1 pounds budget pork sausages, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 14 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
11 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
12 - 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
→ Garnish (optional)
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Set the oven temperature to 400°F.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage meat, breaking it up, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook another minute.
05 - Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, mix cooked pasta with the sausage sauce. Stir in half the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Evenly sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar over the top.
08 - Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
