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Test Kitchen Approved

Easiest Pasta Bake

PorkOvenItalian

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Yield: 10 servings

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About

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!

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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 9x13-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.

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