101 Cooking For Two

  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • ๐Ÿ“–Emails
ร—
๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Italian Recipes

Baked Pasta and Sausage

Published: Feb 4, 2025 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 12 Comments

Jump to Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Baked Pasta and Sausage has tender pasta, homemade marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and delicious Italian sausage, all topped with more cheese. In under an hour, you can easily make this golden-brown sausage pasta bake that delivers wonderful Italian flavors. It's the ideal weeknight dinner recipe that the entire family will love.

๐ŸฅฃIngredients

Pastaโ€”Penne, ziti, or similar
Italian sausage
Tomatoesโ€”crushed or diced
Aromaticโ€”onion, garlic
Mozzarella cheeseโ€”all shredded or cube and shredded mix
Pantry ingredientsโ€”basil, salt, black pepper, oregano, sugar, crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Pasta and sausage bake on a white plate.
Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐ŸฅฃIngredients
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Baked Pasta and Sausageโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐ŸฅฃMake it your wayโ€”options and variations
  • โฌ‡๏ธPan and recipe size options
  • ๐Ÿ˜ŠOther Italian recipes you will love
  • ๐Ÿ“…Make ahead
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing
  • โ„๏ธStoring and reheating leftovers
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

quote mark
Featured Comment by Rachel:
"This is one of my favorite pasta dishes. What an excellent recipe."

This sausage pasta bake is fast and easy Italian comfort food that sticks to your bones. With tender pasta and your favorite Italian sausage, it quickly becomes a small-batch recipe for two if you want.

The dish's star is the simple homemade marinara sauce that simmers in the oven as you bakeโ€”much better and more economical than the jar sauce. Just follow the super easy with these step-by-step photo instructions.

Try Crock Pot Baked Ziti and Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta for other cheesy Italian pasta dishes.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to Make Baked Pasta and Sausageโ€”Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Sausage with pasta and sauce ingredientsโ€”Labeled.
Chopped onion on a white board.

1. Chop the onion and cook pasta to al dente and drain.

Brown the sausage with the onion.

2. Brown the Italian sausage and chopped onion. Add the garlic near the end of cooking. Drain the fat.

Adding crushed tomatoes to the browned meat.

3. Add to the drained meat the tomatoes and spices. Turn to low and simmer for a few minutes.

Chop cheese if needed.

4. If using the optional cubed mozzarella cheese in the pasta, cut it into ยฝ inch cubes.

Mixing the meat sauce into the cooked pasta

5. Add the sauce to the pasta. Add the cubed mozzarella and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and store well.

mixing sauce into the cooked pasta.

6. Pour the mixture into a 9 by 13 or similar baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella. 

browned casserole out of the oven.

7. Bake at 375ยฐ until golden brownโ€”about 30 minutes and an internal temperature of 160ยฐ.

For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.

๐ŸฅฃMake it your wayโ€”options and variations

You can use almost any pasta. We like to use penna or ziti. Hence we usually call it baked ziti.

This uses pork Italian sausage, but turkey sausage or ground beef can be used. But if you use a sausage that is not Italian-flavored, you will need to add some additional spices.

You can substitute a jarred marinara sauce, but the homemade one is simple, has a much better taste, and is more economical.

I prefer crushed tomatoes, but you may use diced tomatoes instead.

The recipe calls for both shredded and chunks of mozzarella cheese in the pasta. You can skip the chunks or substitute additional shredded mozzarella if you prefer.

A good sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese will add additional flavor to the topping shredded cheese.

Adjust the heat by choosing a mild or hotter Italian sausage and adjusting or eliminating the crushed red pepper.

Lasagna-like variation with ricotta

You can easily make it lasagna-like with globs of ricotta cheese and grated Parmesan cheese. To prepare the ricotta: Mix 1 cup (8 oz.) ricotta cheese with one egg white, ยผ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ยฝ teaspoon dry parsley, and ยฝ teaspoon saltโ€”do not over-mix.

โฌ‡๏ธPan and recipe size options

The full recipe makes about 8 servings in a 9 by 13 casserole pan. You can also use a 12-inch round or a 2 ยฝ to 3-quart casserole dish.

You can make a half recipe for 4 servings, which is more "cooking for two" friendly, in a 6 by 9 pan. You can even make a quarter recipe in a 5 by 5 square or 6-inch round baking dish.

To adjust the recipe for a smaller size:

  1. Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings to 4 or 2.
  2. Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโ€”those do not adjust.
  3. Cook until browning well, with bubbly edges, and at 160ยฐ internal temperature. It will cook about 5 to 10 minutes quicker than a full recipeโ€”but check early.

๐Ÿ˜ŠOther Italian recipes you will love

Check out these other Italian recipes, like chicken marinara sauce, Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake, Italian Sausage Marinara Sauce, and Baked Italian Meatballs.

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole is an easy, delicious dinner recipe with tender pasta, meaty homemade pizza sauce, melted cheese, and pizza toppings of your choice.

Cooked pizza casserole in a crock pot.

๐Ÿ“…Make ahead

You can assemble and refrigerate for 24 hours ahead. For longer storage, freeze double-wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil for 3 months.

To cook the frozen casserole, it will be easier to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, but you can bake it frozen. The baking time will be longer, so be sure the internal temperature reaches 160ยฐ.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธServing

A green garden salad is almost mandatory for this heavy dish. However, I also like to serve it with nice bread, such as Stand Mixer Peasant Bread or Julia Child's French Bread. Or try Cheddar Bay Biscuits or Easy Dinner Rolls with this pasta bake.

โ„๏ธStoring and reheating leftovers

To store leftovers, seal them in an airtight container and refrigerate for 4 days or freeze them for 4 months.

To reheat, thaw if frozen. Then I like to reheat covered in the oven, but an air fryer or microwave will work well.

โ“FAQs

Can I use uncooked pasta?

Not in this recipe. My crock pot pasta recipes frequently use uncooked pasta.

Can I use jarred marinara sauce instead of homemade?

Yes, but read the instructions. You will not save any work; mine is much better and cheaper. Most of the sauce simmering is done in the casserole while baking in the oven.

Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card

Pasta and sausage bake on a white plate.

Baked Sausage and Pasta

4.66 from 20 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Baked Pasta and Sausage has tender pasta, homemade marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and delicious Italian sausage, all topped with more cheese. In under an hour, you can easily make this golden-brown sausage pasta bake that delivers wonderful Italian flavors. It's the ideal weeknight dinner recipe that the entire family will love.
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjust if desired 8

Video Slideshow

Save this recipe link to your inbox for later!

Print | Pin | Email share | Like and save for later Saved!

Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 pound pasta - Penne, ziti, or similar
  • 8 oz mozzarella - cubed ยฝ inch
  • 8 oz mozzarella - shredded

Marinara Sauce

  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1 onion - medium chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic - crushed or minced
  • 2 teaspoons dry basil
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon pepper
  • ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional
  • ยฝ teaspoon oregano
  • ยผ teaspoon sugar

Instructions
 

  • Sausage with pasta and sauce ingredientsโ€”Labeled.
    Preheat oven to 375ยฐ. Start your pasta immediately and cook to al dente per the package instructions.
  • Chopped onion on a white board.
    Chop one medium onion.
  • Brown the sausage with the onion.
    In a large pan, add one pound of Italian sausage and the chopped onion in a large pan. Brown over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, and in the last minute, add 2-3 cloves of minced or crushed garlic.
  • Adding crushed tomatoes to the browned meat.
    Add 28 oz. crushed tomatoes, 2 teaspoons basil, ยฝ teaspoon salt, ยฝ teaspoon pepper, ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional), ยฝ teaspoon oregano, and ยผ teaspoon sugar. Turn to low and simmer for a few minutes.
  • Chop cheese if needed.
    Cut 8 oz of mozzarella into ยฝ inch cubes.
  • Mixing the meat sauce into the cooked pasta
    Add the sauce to the pasta. Add the cubed mozzarella and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and mix well.
  • mixing sauce into the cooked pasta.
    Pour into a casserole pan and top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella.ย A 9ร—13 inch rectangular casserole pan is good, or a 12-inch round works well too.
  • Golden brown pasta and sausage bake.
    Bake at 375ยฐ until golden brownโ€”about 30 minutes and an internal temperature of 160ยฐ.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips:

  1. The quality of your ingredients is everything in Italian cooking. If you use generic ingredients, you will have generic results.
  2. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Do not overcook it; it cooks more in the oven.
  3. A 9ร—13-inch rectangular casserole pan is good, or a 12-inch round works well too.
  4. The recipe post includes instructions for using other pan sizes and reducing the recipe size to half or a quarter.
  5. This is good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect.

To adjust the recipe size:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories : 616 kcal (31%)Carbohydrates : 53 g (18%)Protein : 30 g (60%)Fat : 32 g (49%)Saturated Fat : 14 g (70%)Cholesterol : 88 mg (29%)Sodium : 1052 mg (44%)Potassium : 624 mg (18%)Fiber : 4 g (16%)Sugar : 7 g (8%)Vitamin A : 634 IU (13%)Vitamin C : 12 mg (15%)Calcium : 349 mg (35%)Iron : 3 mg (17%)
Serving size is my estimate of a normal size. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

ยฉ 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors.

Editor's Note: Originally Published January 21, 2012. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

Molly in the kitchen.

More Italian Recipes

  • Slice of biscuit pizza on a spatula.
    Bisquickยฎ Pizza Dough
  • Bowl of chicken parm soup.
    Chicken Parmesan Soup
  • Pile of meatballs on a plate.
    Baked Italian Meatballs
  • Baked chicken spaghetti.
    Baked Chicken Spaghetti

Comments

    This post has been updated and republished. All comments are held for moderation due to spam issues. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Please leave a comment or question. All comments are moderated.




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Susan says

    April 19, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    The narrative says 1 tablespoon garlic but the recipe says 1 teaspoon. Please clarify! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      April 19, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      Hi Susan,
      Welcome to the blog.
      That is tablespoons. Thanks for the proofread. I have updated the amount to 2-3 cloves which is how I would term it now. This recipe will be rewritten soon with updated photos etc. The recipe stays the same.
      Garlic is a bit to taste and with my wife, I would double the garlic to keep her happy.
      Again thanks for the questions and sorry for the confusion.
      Dan

  2. Judy Uhl says

    February 15, 2019 at 10:16 am

    I think I'll try this with ground beef. Do you think I could use my 2 qt round casserole?

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      February 15, 2019 at 10:41 am

      Hi Judy,

      Yes to the ground beef but it may be a bit bland lacking the spices in the sausage.

      The pan size is about 3 qt. So it won't fit. The pan I used was a 12 inch "everyday" pan which is about 3 qt. A full size casserole pan is also about 3 qt.

      Hope that helps.
      Dan

  3. Rachel says

    March 24, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    This is one of my favorite pasta dishes. What an excellent recipe. This would go over very well with my family!

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      March 26, 2015 at 10:14 pm

      This is a nice dish. I forget about it at times... I need to do it more.
      Thanks for the note.
      DrDan

  4. smors14 says

    December 05, 2012 at 5:19 pm

    Made this last night for myself and hubby - it was awesome and LOTS of leftovers :)

    Reply
  5. Doug DeFrees says

    February 03, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    Here's my blog post about my baked ziti dinner: https://sundaydinnerfortwo.blogspot.com/2012/02/whats-ziti-and-why-should-i-bake-it.html

    Reply
  6. Doug says

    January 29, 2012 at 11:04 am

    Thanks, Dr. Dan. The upcoming post will be about tonight's dinner featuring your recipe.

    Reply
  7. Dr Dan says

    January 29, 2012 at 8:33 am

    The casserole is 2.5 qt and about 1 1/2 inches deep. I like a lot of top surface area. Good luck with your new blog Sunday, dinner for two

    Reply
  8. Doug says

    January 28, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    What size casserole pan did you use?

    Reply
  9. Chris says

    January 22, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    There are some decent jarred sauces out there these days, it's not just Ragu and Prego anymore. That being said, I still prefer making my own too.

    Reply

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
About DrDan

Pan Seared 30-min. Dinners

  • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak

  • pork tenderloin on blue platter
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin

  • cooked seared chicken breast on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts

  • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon

  • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops from 101 Cooking for Two
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Chops

  • 30 Minute Boneless Pork Ribs

SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.
SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

Footer

BACK TO TOP
OF PAGE
Join the club
SUBSCRIBE TODAY

About

  • About DrDan and the Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Comment Policy
  • Guest Posts, Partnering, and Business Questions

Content

  • Food FAQ
  • Kitchen Reference Sheets
  • Recipes Featured in the Videos
  • Guide To Cooking for Two
  • Old Saved Recipes Collections
dogs by the pond

โ†‘ back to top โ†‘a

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact

COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2010-2025 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME