Hearty Five-Ingredient Pasta Bake

The mail carrier dropped a heavy package on the porch right while I was boiling the penne. That kind of interruption happens every Tuesday in my house.

You need a dinner that holds its ground when life gets loud. This Five-Ingredient Pasta Bake pulls together fast with simple grocery store boxes and a skillet of browned meat.

Prep: 20 minutes · Cook: 25 minutes · Total: about 45 minutes · Serves: 6

How do you make a Five-Ingredient Pasta Bake without the noodles getting mushy? Boil the penne two minutes short of the package time so it finishes cooking in the oven without turning soft.

Baking the pasta too long in sauce makes it absorb too much liquid.

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What You’ll Need

• 1 lb penne
• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Ingredient Notes and Swaps

Penne is the reliable choice here because the tubes hold onto the thick meat sauce so every bite has flavor. You want a standard jar of marinara from the aisle that tastes good straight from the spoon.

Freshly grated Parmesan melts into the cheese layer much better than the pre-grated kind with starch.

How I Make It

1. Boil the pasta. Cook the penne in a large pot of salted water about two minutes short of the package time, then drain it well in the sink.
2. Brown the sausage. Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until it is fully browned and no pink remains.
3. Mix everything. Stir the drained pasta and the jar of marinara right into the skillet with the cooked sausage until the sauce coats every piece.
4. Transfer to pan. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased nine by thirteen inch baking dish and spread it out evenly across the bottom.
5. Add the cheese. Scatter the shredded mozzarella and the freshly grated Parmesan all over the top until the pasta is mostly hidden underneath.
6. Bake and broil. Bake at 375°F for about fifteen minutes, then switch the oven to broil for one to two minutes until the cheese turns golden brown and bubbles at the edges.

Storing and Reheating

Keep any leftover pasta bake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave until steaming hot all the way through.

More From My Kitchen

• Beef Enchiladas with Chili Gravy
• Classic Baked Ziti
• Classic Beef Chili
• Classic Beef Stew
• Classic Cottage Pie
• Classic Ground Beef Tacos
• Classic Meatloaf with Brown Sugar Glaze
• Classic Pot Roast
• Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Classic Stuffed Peppers

Hearty Five-Ingredient Pasta Bake

Recipe by Daisy MerrittCourse: DinnerCuisine: American

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb penne

• 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed

• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

• Boil the pasta. Cook the penne in a large pot of salted water about two minutes short of the package time, then drain it well in the sink.
• Brown the sausage. Cook the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until it is fully browned and no pink remains.
• Mix everything. Stir the drained pasta and the jar of marinara right into the skillet with the cooked sausage until the sauce coats every piece.
• Transfer to pan. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased nine by thirteen inch baking dish and spread it out evenly across the bottom.
• Add the cheese. Scatter the shredded mozzarella and the freshly grated Parmesan all over the top until the pasta is mostly hidden underneath.
• Bake and broil. Bake at 375°F for about fifteen minutes, then switch the oven to broil for one to two minutes until the cheese turns golden brown and bubbles at the edges.