Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake

You will fall in love with this delicious Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake with an easy to make homemade pasta sauce and gooey cheese. The lean chicken sausage is a great alternative to pork sausage that still packs flavor without the guilt!

If you love an all-in-one meal, then you will add this to your menu rotation every month.  It’s kid and parent-friendly, and easy for those busy moms on the go.

Also included in this post is a Recipe Round-Up. I’ve joined a fun group of bloggers to put together a roundup of recipes on the first day of every month. This month we’re sharing easy weeknight pasta bake recipes.

Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake

This recipe was inspired by other sausage pasta dishes I have tried and seen over the years, but using my sons favorite local grocery store chicken sausage made it truly unique.  I expected everyone to enjoy this dish when I first made it but was surprised that they all came back not just for seconds, but thirds!

You may, like me, adjust this recipe to suit your family preferences.  If you aren’t watching fat and calories, you may want to add more cheese.  If you prefer, you can even use a non-dairy cheese or gluten-free pasta.  The possibilities are endless!

What Brand Chicken Sausage Should I Use? 

You can use any of your favorite brands of chicken sausage in this recipe, if you prefer pork sausage or turkey sausage, those will work as well.  Chicken sausage is just a bit healthier, so it’s the one I gravitate toward more often than not.

There are tons of great products out there now in chicken sausage.  Some of my favorite brands available in most stores are Johnsonville, Al Fresco, Aidell’s, Applegate, and even Gilbert’s.  I love the ground chicken sausage from my local Harmon’s grocery store, but you can often find great store brand sausages from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or other markets.

Can I Use Jarred Pasta Sauce? 

Yes! Of course, you can definitely use a jar of pasta sauce you already have on hand if you prefer.  I prefer to make my own fast and easy homemade sauce using canned tomatoes, basil, and a few spices.  But if you already have a jar of sauce on hand and prefer, definitely grab it and substitute it for the fire-roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Note: When using a jar of sauce rather than this homemade version, you may want to adjust the added salt in the recipe.  Many jarred sauces are high in sodium and could leave you with an overly salty dish.

Can I Add Vegetables to my Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake? 

This is another big resounding, yes!  I love casseroles like this because they are a great way to add in some extra vegetables into the day.  While this doesn’t have a ton of vegetables, it is the ideal recipe to add in bell peppers and mushrooms.  You could also easily add in diced squash or zucchini, or spinach and it would compliment the flavors wonderfully.

If you have picky kids who don’t like a lot of vegetables, you can cook them and puree into the sauce.  This is a great way to help you sneak in vegetables for good health.  I personally love adding spinach, kale, and carrots to dishes by doing this method.

Can this Pasta Bake be Frozen? 

You can freeze leftovers, or divide the cooked pasta, sauce, and cheese in half and make two casseroles in 9×9 or 8×8 pans, preferrable a metal pan for the frozen pasta bake. Bake one and freeze the second one.

Thaw the frozen pasta overnight in your refrigerator. Then top it with cheese and heat until the pasta is hot and the cheese is melted and browned. 

Tip:  Make sure to cover and label this casserole with the name, cooking information, and date it was prepared before putting into the freezer for future meals.

Other Great Pasta Dishes

We absolutely love pasta dishes like this in our house.  It’s so easy to make in a hurry, and with great flavors like basil and garlic, you are always satisfied.  If you are looking for more ideas for pasta to add to your meal rotation, then try my Rigatoni with Spicy Sausage, Pasta Carbonara, or my easy Pasta Puttanesca. 

Another chicken sausage dish, you’ll enjoy is my Rotini Pasta in a Creamy Butternut Sauce.  It includes chicken sausage and spinach, and turns out absolutely delicious. 

These White Chicken Lasagna Rollups from Easy Dinner Ideas is another fun option.

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Chicken Sausage Pasta Bake

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Chicken

Keyword: food, Italian, recipe

Servings: 6 - 8 servings

Calories: 334kcal

Author: Barbara Schieving

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep

Equipment

• OXO Good Grips Ground Meat Chopper
• USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan, 9 x 13 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating
• All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan Cookware Set, 10 inch and 12 inch Fry Pan,

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 lb ground chicken or turkey sausage
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 14.5 ounce cans fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 lb dry penne pasta
• 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
• ½ cup shredded Italian cheese blend

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken sausage and salt; cook until cooked through.
• Process tomatoes into a food processor until nearly smooth. Add to skillet along with fresh basil. Reduce heat to low and simmer.
• Cook penne according to packaging directions.
• Add half of the cooked pasta to 13x9 baking dish, add half of the sauce then sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Repeat with one more layer. Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 404mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g

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