Hearty pasta with savory sausage, melted cheese, and tomato sauce, perfect for family dinners.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
→ Sausage
02 - 1.1 pounds budget pork sausages, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 can (14 ounces) chopped tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
11 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
12 - 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
→ Garnish
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Set oven temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Cook sausage meat, breaking it up, until browned, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add chopped onion to sausage and cook 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook an additional minute.
05 - Add chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, dried herbs, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
06 - Mix cooked pasta with sausage sauce in a large bowl. Fold in half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
07 - Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar evenly on top.
08 - Cook in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
