Smoked Sausage Pasta Bake

Your family will love this Smoked Sausage Pasta – smoked sausage, peppers, and penne pasta smothered in a creamy Italian flavored sauce, topped with melted cheese. 

Serve this tasty pasta dish when you want to make sure everyone cleans their plate! Is there ever a time when pasta isn’t a hit? I know it always is at my house!

FAMILY FAVORITE PASTA

We are lovers of pasta at our house. I am always looking for new ways to serve it because although spaghetti is great, it can get old.

I came up with this recipe one day when I had some smoked sausage in the fridge that I needed to use up.

It is an adaptation from my cheesy pasta recipe. This version has meat, so of course the carnivorous males in the family like it even better! It really is tasty, hope you’ll give it a try. 🙂

HOW TO MAKE PASTA WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

1. PASTA – Cook the penne in salted boiling water until barely done. Drain well and return to the pan; set aside.
2. PREP – Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Dice the smoked sausage and green pepper.
3. SAUCE – In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, then the milk. Continue whisking over medium low heat and boil for at least a minute. Add the salt, spices, garlic, and tomato sauce.
4. COMBINE – Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and add the smoked sausage and bell peppers. Stir till well coated.
5. BAKE – Pour mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

That crunchy cheese on the top is my favorite part, but if you just want melted cheese that doesn’t brown, leave the foil on the entire time the dish is baking.

Leftovers? You can store this leftover pasta in the refrigerator for 3-4 days if covered tightly. Reheat leftovers in the microwave. It does dry out in the fridge, so it’s a good idea to add a splash of milk or cream.

I don’t recommend freezing this dish because the sauce can curdle, and the noodles get mushy.

VARIATIONS:

• If you have time, saute the smoked sausage in a bit of oil before adding it to the pasta dish. The caramelization adds a yummy depth of flavor.
• For a bit of a kick, add some red pepper flakes and top with pepper jack cheese.
• Switch up the vegetables. Diced onion, red pepper, asparagus, and spinach are all tasty. You could also try mushrooms, broccoli, or any vegetables you like.
• Smoked sausage is our favorite for this dish, but Italian sausage and ground pork sausage are also tasty.
• No penne on hand? You can use any type of pasta you have in your pantry. I’ve also had great results with rotini and bow tie pasta.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH PASTA

• Zucchini and Carrots
• Spinach Salad with Bacon
• Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
• Oven Roasted Cauliflower

MORE TASTY PASTA RECIPES:

• Italian Chicken Pasta
• Lemon Chicken Pasta
• Pumpkin Sausage Pasta

Smoked Sausage Pasta Recipe

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Yield: 6 servings

Pasta with Smoked Sausage

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This creamy smoked sausage pasta dish is sure to become a new family favorite!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups dry penne pasta
• 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dry basil
• 1/4 tsp dry oregano
• 1/4 tsp dry thyme
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1/2 pound smoked sausage, cubed (I used Hillshire Farms)
• 1/3 cup diced green pepper
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook pasta in salted water till al dente (barely done). Don't overcook! Drain and return to the pan.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 2 1/2 quart casserole with non stick cooking spray; set aside.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Whisk in the flour, then the milk. Whisk and boil for at least 1 minute. Add the salt, spices and garlic. Stir in the tomato sauce. 
4. Pour the sauce over the cooked and drained noodles. Add the smoked sausage and green peppers and stir well. 
5. Pour into prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
6. Cover and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 350Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 798mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 15g

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Looking for an easy dinner recipe that always wins rave reviews? Give this creamy smoked sausage and pasta dish a try!