Pasta and sausage in a rich tomato pasta sauce is topped with an abundance of cheese to create this Cheesy Sausage Pasta.
Everything bakes and melts together to create an irresistible dinner for any cheese or pasta lover!
Cheesy Baked Pasta
Is there a kid in the world who doesn’t love a cheesy pasta dinner? My kids enjoy cheesy pasta and honestly, the more cheese the better.
We are big fans of mac and cheese here and my kids would probably choose that for their dinner any night of the week.
Much like the Stuffed Pepper Skillet, adding cheese to the dish makes it infinitely more appealing.
To be honest, this recipe is seriously delicious before any cheese is added at all. But the cheese? It does make it even tastier.
Taco Soup and Pepperoni Pizza Rolls are a couple more dinners that are awesome with extra cheese.
Chunks of savory, smoky ham and perfectly seasoned, gooey, melted cheese make this Mac and Cheese with Ham a dinner you’ll make more than once.
Savory sausage, creamy ricotta and mozzarella, and your favorite spaghetti sauce are baked with bowtie pasta in this Lazy Lasagna recipe twist on traditional lasagna.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this {Six Ingredient} BBQ Meatloaf and the result is every bit as delicious as the much more complicated traditional recipes.
Want your kids to eat more vegetables? This Broccoli with Cheese Sauce by Dinner at the Zoo is a recipe they won’t be able to resist.
Baked Pasta with Sausage
Adding sausage to a simple dish like this one adds a whole lot of flavor with minimal effort.
I like using breakfast sausage (the hot sausage variety is my first choice) for the abundance of spices that are already there, but any sausage you like will work here.
While I absolutely love this with mushrooms added to the skillet, my kids can take them or leave them. They’re optional though, so feel free to add them or not.
This is also delicious with sautéed bell peppers and/or onions added.
Cheesy Sausage Pasta
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente. (Take care not to overcook.) Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop it from continuing to cook while it cools.
- While the pasta is boiling, preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook and crumble the sausage over medium-high heat. Add the garlic cloves and continue cooking until fragrant. Add the spaghetti sauce, stir and bring to a simmer. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to mix throughout. Sprinkle with 2 cups of cheese, stir to combine. Top with an additional 2 cups of cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has thoroughly melted and the edges are bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
I’m all in favor of EASY dinner ideas for busy weeknights. These Crockpot Sweet and Sour Meatballs are another awesomely easy dinner option you’ll want to try!
Looking for more cheesy dinner recipes? This Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a fantastic treat, loaded with savory slices of pepperoni, gooey mozzarella, and fresh basil.
Cheesy Sausage Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 16 ounces bite-size pasta
- 1 lb spicy Italian or hot breakfast sausage
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 26 ounces spaghetti sauce (use your favorite – homemade or store-bought)
- kosher salt, adjust to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, adjust to taste
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente. (Take care not to overcook.) Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop it from continuing to cook while it cools.
- While the pasta is boiling, preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook and crumble the sausage over medium-high heat. Add the garlic cloves and continue cooking until fragrant. Add the spaghetti sauce, stir and bring to a simmer. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir to mix throughout. Sprinkle with 2 cups of cheese, stir to combine. Top with an additional 2 cups of cheese.
- Bake until the cheese has thoroughly melted and the edges are bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Nutrition
MissT says
This is such an easy pasta to make for a busy night. I added more red pepper for a kick and my husband loved it.
Mary says
I bet the extra heat is great in this!
Lilya says
Would this work well to freeze? Trying to make some freezer meals for a mama and not sure if this would work well and if I would freeze it before baking and what instructions I would give her to bake it through
Mary says
This should freeze nicely in an airtight container. I typically thaw meals in the fridge overnight and then bake as directed.
kaysha says
I can’t wait to try this
Mary says
Please do! And let us know how it turns out for you, Kaysha.
Randy Schreck says
I didn’t see a oven temp, but I assume it’s the usual 350-375 F
Mary says
Thanks for catching that, Randy! You’re correct. The oven temp should be 350°F. I’ve corrected the recipe card. Thanks again!