Description
Indulge in a comforting and cheesy baked mostaccioli dish, perfect for a cozy family dinner or gathering. This recipe combines hearty pasta with savory Italian sausage, rich marinara sauce, and a blend of three cheeses for a truly satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound mostaccioli pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (or ground beef)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Pasta: Cook mostaccioli pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Brown sausage and onion in olive oil, add garlic, then stir in marinara sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: Mix cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese in a bowl. Transfer to baking dish.
- Add Cheese: Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta or use a plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version.
- Prepare ahead and refrigerate before baking for easy meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
