Penne & Sausage Casseroles

Total Time

Prep: 50 min. Bake: 30 min.

Makes

2 casseroles (8 servings each)

Updated: May. 03, 2022
Cheese, sausage and mushrooms make this casserole a consistent hit. It comes together quickly and feeds a crowd, too. —John Venturino, Concord, California
Penne & Sausage Casseroles Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 pounds uncooked penne pasta
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1-1/2 cups dry red wine or beef broth, divided
  • 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes, cut up
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 4 cups shredded fontina cheese
  • Minced fresh parsley, optional

Directions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside.
  2. In the same Dutch oven, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic and oregano; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in 1 cup wine. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, sausage and remaining wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Drain pasta. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in each of two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Divide half of the pasta between the dishes; layer each with 2-1/2 cups sauce and 1 cup each of the cheeses. Repeat layers.
  4. Cover and bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Can you freeze Penne & Sausage Casseroles?

Cover and freeze unbaked casseroles for up to 3 months. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake according to directions. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/4 cups: 460 calories, 21g fat (10g saturated fat), 59mg cholesterol, 756mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.