A filling pasta bake with sausage, cheese, and tomato sauce, ideal for easy family dinners.
# What you'll need:
→ 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 pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
11 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
12 - 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
→ Garnish (optional)
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Method:
01 - Set the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Boil pasta in heavily salted water until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add sausage meat, and cook while breaking it apart until browned, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Add finely chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened, then stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
05 - Incorporate canned tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs, chili flakes (if using), salt, and pepper into the skillet. Simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, fold together the cooked pasta with the sausage sauce and half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
07 - Transfer the mixture into a large baking dish and evenly sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over the top.
08 - Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and bubbling.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
