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.
Great! Thanks for answering 🙂
Hi Gaby!
I'm thinking of making this for a friend of mine who's about to have a baby. If I made it the night before and left it unbaked, would it keep in the fridge overnight? I'm trying to find something I can take and she can bake herself.
absolutely!! that would work perfectly!
Gaby- Could you substitute lean ground turkey instead of the italian sausage (can't find it where i live?) and get the same result?
absolutely!! that will work perfectly
LOVE this pairing idea, and Em and I totally gorged ourselves on this last night. I'm STILL full. SO GOOD.
what am I, Stuttering Stanle? "This sounds so comforting and yummy" that feels better
This ssounds so comforting and yummy!!
I finally gave up on bachelor when I got so tired of him or her going for the wrong gal or guy (e.g. Jake and Vienna). Instead of a fairy tale it was a train wreck! Plus, I couldn't handle the abuse from the men in my family 🙁
Now that is a serious bake! I adore chicken sausage. Yummy!
I will eat this every week from now until The Bachelor finale. But seriously. 🙂
This is so fun! I love the bachelor love fest collaboration! And this is totally the kind of baked pasta dish I love! You have a new follower 🙂
Can't wait to make this on Monday! Might have to add some salted caramel oatmeal cookies for dessert. Party!
I'm a Bachelor addict too! It makes me look forward to running on the treadmill....it would be even better, if I had this pasta bake waiting on me when I stepped off! 😉
I embrassed to admit it's a guildty pleasure! This sounds like a super fun "date!" Love how easy the pasta is too!
Haha this is amazing. I am a huge Bachelor fan and follow Zack's blog religiously! I created some Bachelor-themed cupcakes for the start of this season. Together with this, they would make a great slut and glut comfort meal! 🙂
yes it would!!! omg love the Bach cupcakes 🙂 So fun!
My heart acheth for thiseth.