Description
A heartwarming dish of Mostaccioli pasta layered with rich marinara sauce, savory Italian sausage, and gooey cheese, perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz Mostaccioli pasta
- 24 oz Marinara sauce
- 1 lb Ground Italian sausage (or turkey/plant-based crumbles)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- Fresh Basil, for garnish
- Fresh Parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Mostaccioli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Toss in the Mostaccioli and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta water, drain the rest, and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and let them soften for 3 to 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Brown the Sausage: Increase the heat slightly and add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.
- Combine and Serve: Toss in the Mostaccioli and combine. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan and cook until melted and bubbly.
- Garnish: Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
If lightening the dish, consider swapping in zucchini noodles for the pasta and using pesto instead of marinara.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Mostaccioli, pasta, Italian recipe, comfort food, family recipe