Oh man friends. This Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake couldn't be easier or more delicious!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake is truly one of the most comforting and easy weeknight meals to put together. You know I love a recipe that only has 4 steps in the directions. Speaking my language!
Quickly bake some rigatoni or ziti, add it to some cooked sausage, and then make a quick tomato sauce with herbs, cream and onions... ugh it's truly perfection. Into the oven and then it's time for dinner. I've been serving it with this butter lettuce salad that compliments just about every dish in the world!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rigatoni or Ziti
- Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
- Onion
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Tomatoes
- Heavy Cream
- Mozzarella
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper freshly ground
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below.
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350F. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta, and set it aside.
Step 2: Remove the casings from the sausage. In a large skillet, combine the sausage, onion, and herbs over medium heat until browned, for about 10 minutes until the meat is golden brown.
Step 3: Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
Step 4: Add the crushed tomatoes and heavy cream and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Step 5: Combine cooked pasta and sausage mixture, and the shredded mozzarella and stir to combine.
Step 6: Place the pasta mixture in a large casserole dish.
Step 7: Top with the fresh mozzarella and bake for 30 minutes until bubbly. Serve immediately.
How to Store Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake
You can store the cheesy chicken sausage pasta bake in the fridge tightly wrapped for about 3 days. You can heat it in the oven till its warmed through and the cheese is bubbly.
How to Freeze Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake
You can freeze this pre or post bake and have it on hand for those busy weeknights.
Tips & Tricks
Ziti is the classic shape for baked pasta, but you can use any short pasta you'd like.
FAQs
Can I use pork sausage instead?
Yes! You can sub the chicken sausage with pork sausage.
Similar Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni or ziti
- 1 lb sweet italian chicken sausage
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 6 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 ½ cups crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cut into bite sized pieces
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta, and set it aside.
- Remove the casings from the sausage. In a large skillet, combine the sausage, onion, and herbs over medium heat until browned, for about 10 minutes until the meat is golden brown. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds before adding the crushed tomatoes and heavy cream and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine cooked pasta and sausage mixture, and the shredded mozzarella and stir to combine. Place the pasta mixture in a large casserole dish. Top with the fresh mozzarella and bake for 30 minutes until bubbly. Serve immediately.
Delicious and very easy!! Love all your pasta recipes
So quick and easy and delicious, I added mushrooms and spinach to get some veggies in there, but definitely an easy staple.
This tasted so so yummy!
I used beyond spicy italian sausage and added chopped bell pepper (daughter is vegetarian) followed recipe exact, and have plenty for leftovers too. The whole family loved it!
Was asked to add this to the rotation!
Do you use fresh mozz cheese? The kind in water???
Was looking for a cheesy pasta bake situation for this chilly rainy fall day and stumbled across this. Delicious!