Italian Sausage Penne Bake This hearty and flavorful Italian Sausage Penne Bake combines zesty sausage, gooey mozzarella, and perfectly cooked pasta for a comforting dish that's sure to please everyone at the table. Ingredients 16 oz box Penne pasta 2 lb Hot Italian Sausage, can use sweet or mild Italian 24 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 medium onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 28 oz can diced tomatoes 1½ tsp basil 1½ tsp oregano Salt and pepper, to taste Instructions Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 3 quart casserole dish with a non-stick spray. Set aside. Remove sausage from casing and add to a large skillet. Crumble and cook over medium heat until done. Drain grease from sausage, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease. Set sausage aside. Spoon 2 tablespoons of grease back into the pan, add chopped onions and garlic, and sauté until onions are translucent. Pour diced tomatoes into the skillet with the onions and garlic. Add basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Add Italian sausage back to the skillet and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for approximately 20 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, rinse, and place pasta back in the pan. Add the sausage mixture to the pan with the pasta. Add ½ of the mozzarella cheese to the pan and stir well until melted. Place ½ of the meat and pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish, sprinkle with cheese, add the rest of the meat and pasta, and top with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake until cheese is bubbly and heated through, approximately 30 minutes. You can remove the foil and bake the cheese a bit more for a golden finish. Serve with salad and garlic bread.
