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A close-up photograph of a white ceramic baking dish filled with a creamy casserole dish. The dish contains perfectly browned meatballs arranged in a grid pattern, topped with melted cheddar cheese that has a bright yellow color and glossy surface. Fresh green parsley leaves are scattered across the top as garnish. A silver serving spoon is partially visible on the right side of the dish. The casserole has a rich, creamy sauce visible between the meatballs. The baking dish has a decorative bubble pattern around its rim. The background shows a dark blue-gray napkin and fresh parsley sprigs slightly out of focus. The lighting is bright and even, highlighting the golden-brown crust of the meatballs and the melted cheese.

Creamy Italian Sausage Casserole

This creamy Italian sausage casserole is full of bold flavor, creamy tomato sauce, tender pasta, and melted cheese—an easy weeknight favorite baked to perfection.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine Italian-Inspired
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • Large Skillet For cooking sausage and sauce
  • 9x13 Baking Dish To bake the casserole

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed
  • 12 oz short pasta penne or rigatoni, cooked and drained
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 28 oz
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Cook pasta until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add sausage and break up while browning with onions and garlic.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes, cream, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
  • Mix cooked pasta into sauce along with half of the mozzarella and all the Parmesan.
  • Transfer to baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly. Broil 2 minutes for browning if desired.
  • Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with parsley if you like.

Notes

  • Swap heavy cream for half-and-half for a lighter version.
  • Add spinach or chopped kale with the sausage for more greens.
  • Great for freezing—assemble, wrap, and bake from frozen with extra time.
Keyword baked sausage pasta, creamy pasta bake, italian sausage casserole
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