You may ask what Baked Sausage Parmesan Penne is? Well to honor the inspiration, it is Penne al forno Salsiccia Parmigiano in Italian. You probably will not find it on a table in Italy, but this is America. One of those days where dinner was sneaking up and I did not want to go the store. So we used ingredients on hand.
I looked in the pantry and saw some Penne. Well, that and a little tomato sauce and we are good to go. Of course, I had to find some kind of meat to go in it. The jeers are louder when there is no meat–I really should stop teaching the children that! Imagine my surprise when I found some smoked sausage.
How to make Baked Sausage Parmesan Penne: Printable
Preheat oven to 350°.
Heat a pot of water to boiling and then cook a 16 ounce package pasta to al dente (6-8 minutes), then drain.
In a saucepan, over medium heat, add butter and half of a chopped onion. Saute for 5 minutes.
Add 3-4 minced garlic cloves and saute for another 2 minutes.
Add 1 cup of white Merlot to de-glaze the pan and simmer for 1 minute.
Add 1 quart of tomato sauce, 1/2 pound of smoked sausage, and 1 tablespoon Italian herbs. Simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced.
In a greased casserole dish, add half of the cooked pasta, then half of the meat sauce mixture, then 3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Start layering again–the rest of the pasta then the meat sauce, and top with another 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
Bake covered for 20 minutes. Remove cover and bake for another 10 minutes to brown the cheese.
This little treat smells so good when baking. It will cause the kids to run in and ask what is for dinner. This basic recipe is sort of a base for me in my cooking. There are many times I will add or subtract different things depending on need or availability.
It is perfect to mix in some vegetables that the children need to eat. It also allows you to cut back on the meat portions a little bit. It is a perfect meal with a loaf of bread. One of these days I am going to perfect an Italian Sourdough bread. Guess I better get the starter ready.
pirate96 blogs at Wokokon. Do you have a recipe post or kitchen-related story to share on the Farm Bell blog?
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lisabetholson says:
I think we all have our go to dinner bases. This sounds very delicous. Which sausage did you use? I like hot in some dishes.
On December 16, 2011 at 10:01 am
pirate96 says:
Thanks lisabeth! I wish I could have more hot sausage. My wife does not like heat so the only time we have hot is when someone mistakenly picks up the wrong kind. This was your very ordinary local smoked sausage (Carolina Pride).
On December 16, 2011 at 11:18 am
AnnieB says:
This sounds yummy – my tummy is grumbling now 🙂
I cook this way a lot – what’s in the freezer, fridge and pantry and how can I throw it together to make something that tastes and smells great? Good job!
On December 16, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Ruthmarie says:
Oh my goodness! … we also do much the same layering with penne or any leftover pasta. We call the layered casserole, Quick Lasagna, made with leftover rice or pasta, cottage cheese processed with an egg and Parmesan topped with mozzerella, and a red sauce. Sometimes with meat, sometimes not. Sometimes with a layer of cooked greens. It’s a great way to eat cheap, use up bits of leftovers and DH will darn near eat anything that is remotely similar to Lasagna.
On December 18, 2011 at 11:40 am