Baked Italian Pasta with Sausage, Tomato, and Mozzarella

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

A comforting baked pasta casserole layered with savory Italian sausage, tangy tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 50 minutes pairs penne pasta, Italian sausage, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb, casings removed Italian sausage
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup, chopped (optional) fresh basil leaves

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 oz penne pasta for 9 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small diced yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed) to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook for 6-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Step 5: Combine the cooked penne pasta with the sausage tomato sauce in a large mixing bowl. Transfer half the mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
6. Step 6: Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the first layer. Add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
7. Step 7: Top with remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
8. Step 8: Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves if desired before serving.