When life feels a little too busy, making dinner can be one of the last things you feel like doing. Unless… you have a dish like Easiest Pasta Bake that keeps things short, savory, and pretty darn delicious. Consider this your go-to when you start to get tempted by the takeout menu. You can have your own Italian feast including bouncy pasta swirled in a tangy, creamy, meaty red sauce and melty cheese, right from the comfort of your own home. This is definitely a more economical option, too, and you know without a doubt, your creation will taste much better than anything you could order at a restaurant. Toss the idea of takeout from your thoughts, Easiest Pasta Bake is serving it up tonight!
Ingredients
- olive oil, to taste
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups cream
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups provolone, pecorino Romano, or asiago cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 1 pound penne or other short pasta
- 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Butter a deep 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large pot, heat the olive oil.
Step 4 –Add the onion to the oil and sauté until it has softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 5 –Add the garlic to the onion and sauté until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 6 –Add the sausage to the onion mixture and cook on medium-high heat until it is no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes.
Step 7 –Add the crushed tomatoes and the sun-dried tomatoes to the meat mixture.
Step 8 –Stir the wine, the water, the tomato paste, the cream, the dried herbs, and the spinach into the meat mixture.
Step 9 –Stir the provolone and the parmesan into the meat mixture until combined.
Step 10 –Transfer the meat mixture away from the heat and stir in the dried pasta.
Step 11 –Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 12 –Cover and bake the pasta for 45 minutes.
Step 13 –Uncover and top the pasta mixture with the mozzarella.
Step 14 –Bake until the cheese has melted and is lightly browning, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 15 –Serve.
