One-Pot Cheesy Sausage and Spinach Pasta Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-09 · Updated 2026-07-09

A comforting one-pot pasta dish loaded with savory sausage, tender spinach, and melted cheese, baked to golden perfection. This Italian one-pot recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs Italian sausage, olive oil, and yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 Italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 10 oz uncooked penne pasta
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups fresh spinach leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
2. Step 2: Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the sausage. Sauté for 4 minutes until the onion is translucent and garlic fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp dried oregano and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
4. Step 4: Add 10 oz uncooked penne pasta, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 1 tsp salt. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and most liquid absorbed.
5. Step 5: Fold in 4 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach leaves, stirring until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp black pepper.
6. Step 6: Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan evenly over the top. Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake uncovered for 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
7. Step 7: Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.