Cheese & Sausage Pasta Bake

Who doesn’t love a pasta bake? I haven’t made a pasta bake in so long and I can’t remember why I ever stopped. They are so easy to make, can be prepared in advance (keep in the fridge once assembled until ready to bake) and can be divided up into a few portions. They are especially great for leftovers throughout the week.

This dish comes together in a few easy steps; from browning the sausage, adding some crushed tomatoes and mixing it with the cooked pasta. It’s the perfect weeknight meal and very satisfying.

INGREDIENTS:

• 500 g of sausage (either loose or removed from the casing)

• 1 can of crushed tomatoes

• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped

• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped

• 3 cups of dried pasta (like rigatoni)

• 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes

• 1 cup of ricotta cheese

• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella

• 2 tbsp of dried basil

• salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions, set aside.

2. In a large pan, brown the sausage meat. Once cooked through, set aside in a small bowl.

3. In the same pan, on medium-low heat…cook the garlic and onions until soft. About 4-6 minutes.

4. Add the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes to your pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3-4 minutes to marry the flavours.

5. Return the cooked sausage into your pan with the mixture and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

6. Add in you cook pasta and mix until all ingredients are well combined.

7. If you are using an oven-safe pan, you can leave the pasta mixture there. If not, transfer into a baking dish.

8. In a small bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the shredded mozzarella, dried basil, a few cracks of fresh pepper and a pinch of salt. Mix to combine.

9. Add spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture randomly on top of your pasta. Then sprinkle the rest of the shredded mozzarella on top.

10. Cook in the oven at 425 degrees F for about 30 minutes so that the cheese on top starts to bubble and turn golden.

Allow a few minutes to cool once out of the oven and serve.

Christopher

Christopher is a food and lifestyle expert, recipe developer and the content creator behind May Eighty Five. With years of experience in the kitchen, he also shares tips, tricks and how to’s that he has learnt over the years. Every week, he shares quick, simple and mostly healthy recipes along with some home and entertaining tips. You will find flavorful cocktails, delicious appetizers, tasty mains and some indulgent desserts. As a home decor enthusiast, he also likes to share simple DIY projects and simple tips for a beautiful home.