What to serve with pasta bake?

This sausage pasta bake tastes delicious on its own but would also pair great with a side caesar salad, some garlic bread, and some fudgy chocolate cookies for dessert!

Do you boil the pasta for pasta bake?

No, you do not need to boil the pasta before baking it with this recipe. There is enough liquid from the sauce and water to cook the noodles to al dente while it bakes.

Cheesy Italian Sausage and Spinach Pasta Bake

Name: Cheesy Italian Sausage and Spinach Pasta Bake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons; Italian Sausage: 1 pound ground or approx. 4 sausages removed from its casing; Rigatoni: 1 pound; Water: 2 cups; Marinara: 5 cups (approx. 2 jars) or make your own tomato sauce; Frozen Spinach: 2 cups; Mozzarella Cheese, shredded: 3 cups

Description

This cheesy Italian sausage and spinach pasta bake is easy to make and a super comforting dinner dish!

Ingredients

Units

Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons
Italian Sausage: 1 pound ground or approx. 4 sausages removed from its casing
Rigatoni: 1 pound
Water: 2 cups
Marinara: 5 cups (approx. 2 jars) or make your own tomato sauce
Frozen Spinach: 2 cups
Mozzarella Cheese, shredded: 3 cups

Instructions

Prepare: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Cook the sausage: Heat a pan on medium heat and add the olive oil and sausage. Cook the sausage until pale (about 5 minutes) while constantly breaking it up as it cooks.
Assemble and bake: Add and mix together the rigatoni, water, marinara, spinach, cooked sausage, and a pinch of salt and pepper in the baking dish. Top with the mozzarella cheese and cover with tin foil and bake it on the middle rack for 30 minutes. Remove the tin foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly golden.

Equipment

9x13 Baking Dish

Buy Now →

Cheese Grater

Buy Now →

Measuring Spoons & Cups

Buy Now →

Notes

If you use tin foil to cover your baking dish, spray the bottom so the cheese doesn't stick to it when it melts!

Shredding your own mozzarella is guaranteed to give you the cheesiest melted cheese ever (over the pre-shredded stuff!)

You can use whatever pasta noodles you like best! Stringy pasta noodles like spaghetti or linguini might not be the best option, but others like penne, ziti, etc., will taste just as great!

There's nothing wrong with some quick and easy store-bought pasta sauce, but if you've got time and want this to taste extra special, make your own tomato sauce from scratch.

Nutrition facts are for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any errors. We have tested the recipe for accuracy, but your results may vary. Please note that this is not medical or nutrition advice. Seek advice from a licensed professional if you need advice. We are not liable for any damages caused by your use of this content.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dinner, Lunch, pasta
Method: Bake
Cuisine: Italian