Easy Baked Penne with Sausage

This easy baked penne with sausage recipe has marinara sauce, flavorful Italian sausage, and lots of parmesan and mozzarella cheese. It’s low on effort and big on flavor!

Ingredients · Servings 6

1 pound uncooked penne pasta
16 ounces Italian sausage (see note)
1/2 medium onion (chopped)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce (see note)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1.5 cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper to taste

Method · 45 min

Preheat your oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook it for 2 minutes less than the package directions indicate. Once it's done, drain it and add it to a 9x13 baking dish.
Meanwhile, add the sausage and onion to a skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage has browned (about 8-10 minutes). If there's a lot of excess fat, spoon most of it out.
Stir in the garlic and cook for about a minute.
Add in the marinara sauce and red pepper flakes and cook for a couple more minutes until it's warmed through.
Pour the sausage mixture into the baking dish. I add in some salt & pepper as well. Toss until everything is coated. Smooth it out into an even layer.
Top with the cheeses and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese (watch it carefully). Serve immediately.

Why you’ll love it

If you’re a fan of hot and melty cheese, a meaty tomato sauce, and hearty pasta, this baked penne pasta with Italian sausage should definitely be added to your weeknight rotation! It has just 10 minutes of prep for my kind of easy and comforting dinner.

This Italian sausage pasta bake is kind of like a pared-down Baked Ziti. It’s every bit as delicious but with fewer ingredients! It’s pretty much as simple as pasta night can get while still having a tasty flavor payoff. Top it with some fresh basil, and it’s chef’s kiss.

What you’ll need

Marinara sauce – use a jarred variety you love the taste of! Or make my Easy Marinara Sauce.

Pro tip

Be careful not to overcook the penne when you’re boiling it because it’ll cook more in the oven.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Here’s my cast iron skillet for the sautéing steps and 9×13 baking dish for the oven.
I highly suggest grating your parm freshly from a block with a Microplane zester.
Mince the garlic with a quick squeeze of a garlic press. Such a game changer!

How to make baked penne with sausage

Preheat the oven. Boil the pasta for a couple of minutes less than package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook the sausage and onions until browned. Spoon out any excess fat, then stir in the garlic until fragrant. Add in the marinara and red pepper flakes.

Warm the sauce through. Add the drained pasta to a baking dish, then pour on the sauce/meat mixture. Season with salt & pepper, and toss well. Spread it evenly, then top with the mozza and parm. Bake until hot, and broil carefully until golden.

Make ahead tips

Make this baked penne ahead of time by assembling it according to the instructions below up to the point just before baking it.
Cover tightly, and then refrigerate it for a day or two or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Bake it, covered with foil, at 350F for 30-40 minutes, or until it’s hot all the way through. Broil it for the last few minutes.

Substitutions and variations

This recipe is pretty flexible. A bit more/less meat will work fine, or swap the sausage for ground beef or even ground turkey if needed.
You can swap the mozzarella for cheddar or use a mixture of the two.
The red pepper flakes don’t make it particularly spicy. You can either omit them or add more if you wish. Or try hot Italian sausage for a kick!

What to serve with this penne pasta bake

Top it with garden basil or chopped parsley for a pop of freshness.
I’ll never not recommend a big slice of my Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread for pasta night at home. It just goes so well!
For a salad, a Caesar salad with my 10-Minute Caesar Dressing and Easy Parmesan Croutons pairs great, or try your usual leafy greens and veggies with my crave-worthy Italian Dressing.

Leftovers and storage

Store any leftovers of this baked sausage pasta in the fridge for a few days, letting it cool down first.
Reheat in the oven for best results.
You could freeze leftovers (in individual portions) if desired, but it’s not my preference since the texture may change due to the dairy.

Easy Baked Penne with Sausage

baked penne with sausage recipe has marinara sauce, flavorful Italian sausage, and lots of parmesan and mozzarella cheese. It's low on effort and big on flavor!

Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook it for 2 minutes less than the package directions indicate. Once it's done, drain it and add it to a 9×13 baking dish.