Creamy Sausage Pasta Bake
User Reviews
4.1
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
423 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Creamy Sausage Pasta Bake
Description
This recipe blends cooked fusilli pasta with sautéed sausage meat, fresh vegetables including red pepper and spinach, and a sauce made from chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, cream, and aromatic herbs like oregano and basil. Garlic adds depth, and fresh parsley or basil tops the final bake.
The baking step melts the mozzarella over the pasta and sauce, creating a gooey, golden topping that contrasts with the tender, saucy pasta beneath. The sausage provides a savory base, balanced by the brightness of the herbs and sweetness from the peppers and tomatoes.
It can be served directly from the oven for a cozy meal. For a variation, slices of cooked sausages such as chorizo can replace sausage meat; in this case, the sauce cooking starts with onion and garlic before adding vegetables and sausages. The recipe notes indicate that baking time remains the same regardless of sausage form.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fusilli pasta
- 1 cup sausage meat (or 6 sausages)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tin tomato 400 g, 13 oz, chopped
- 1 red pepper
- 1 cup spinach fresh baby
- ¼ cup cream heavy cream, double
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 tablespoon parsley or basil, fresh
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
- Heat up the oil in a pan over a medium heat, add the sausage meat and use a wooden spoon to break the meat.
- Cook for about 3-4 minutes, then add the garlic, chopped tomatoes, chopped pepper, spinach, seasoning, herbs and a quarter of a cup of the water in which the pasta is cooking.
- Put the lid on, and leave to cook for 10 minutes or so until the sauce is reduced.
- Add the cream, and add the cooked and drained pasta.
- Transfer everything to an oven-proof dish, top with grated cheese and bake at 200 degrees Celsius (390 Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Top with fresh chopped parsley or basil.
Notes
- Ground sausage meat offers a straightforward base, but you can substitute sliced sausages, cooking them separately before combining with the sauce.
- If using sausage slices, start the sauce by sautéing onion and garlic, then add tomatoes, spinach, and peppers before mixing in the sausages and pasta.
- The bake requires about 10 minutes at 200°C for thorough cheese melting and final warming.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 423 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 423kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 72mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 609mg | 25% |
| Potassium | 351mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 2045IU | 41% |
| Vitamin C | 41.4mg | 46% |
| Calcium | 110mg | 11% |
| Iron | 1.7mg | 9% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.1
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