Description
Enjoy a delicious baked penne casserole made with Italian sausage and creamy cheese. This dish is a fantastic choice for a quick dinner that satisfies and delights with every bite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz medium pasta shells
- 2 teaspoon olive oil, or cooking oil of choice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup shallots, (or onions) minced
- 12 oz italian sausage, removed from casing
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, (or more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
- pinch red pepper flakes, optional
- ¾ cup low fat (2%) cottage cheese, small curds
- 6 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- chopped italian parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the minced garlic and shallots for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up into smaller pieces. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for 10-15 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooled sauce, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cubes. Mix well, then transfer the mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted. Broil for an additional 30-45 seconds to brown the top. Allow to stand for 5-8 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
For added flavor, consider using spicy Italian sausage.
This dish can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking for a quick meal later.
Feel free to substitute the cottage cheese with ricotta for a creamier texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 65mg