Here’s a comforting Sausage and Mushroom Pasta Bake—cheesy, creamy, and perfect for a family dinner. 🍝🍄🌭
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 3–4 sausage links (Italian or breakfast sausage), sliced or crumbled
- 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions.
- Drain and set aside.
2. Cook sausage and vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add sausage and cook until browned.
- Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms.
- Cook 5–6 minutes until mushrooms soften.
3. Make the sauce
- Stir in marinara sauce, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Combine pasta and sauce
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and mix well.
5. Assemble the bake
- Pour mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan evenly on top.
6. Bake
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Serve
- Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
💡 Tips
- Add spinach or broccoli for extra vegetables. 🥦
- Use spicy sausage for a kick. 🌶️
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs mixed with butter on top for a crispy crust.
If you want, I can also give you a one-pan sausage mushroom pasta bake (no boiling pasta first) which is very popular because everything cooks in one dish. 🍝
