Oven-Baked Penne with Smoked Sausage and Mozzarella

Ingredients

- 12 oz. uncooked penne pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 oz. smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Cook the Pasta
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the uncooked penne pasta and cook until just al dente, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

3. Prepare Sausage and Mix Ingredients
In a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

4. Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the cooked penne pasta and marinara sauce to the skillet with the smoked sausage. Stir to combine evenly. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

5. Top with Cheese
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta mixture.

6. Bake
Place the skillet or baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

7. Serve
Remove from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if using. Serve warm.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT10M
10 minutes

- Cooking Time: PT32M
32 minutes

Total Time

- Total Time: PT42M
42 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Penne pasta, smoked sausage pasta, oven-baked pasta, mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, one-dish dinner, easy Italian dish, pasta bake, cheesy pasta, quick dinner

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 2,400

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