This delicious pasta recipe is inspired by one I found on AllRecipes a few years ago. Every time I make it, I wonder why I waited so long to make it again. It is light, slightly spicy, and a definite comfort food. Perfect for cold winter nights here in Chicago.
My tip to you: don’t skimp on the cheese!
Italian Sausage and Bowtie Pasta Bake
Italian sausage, tomatoes, and some cream combine to make a rich, flavorful sauce. Mix with bowtie noodles, cover in a generous amount of cheese, and bake until golden brown!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 599kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb bowtie noodles
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage (use sweet, if you prefer less spice)
- ¼-½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust according to your spice preference)
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 tbsp garlic, minced
- 28 oz Italian Style whole tomatoes
- 1½ c heavy cream
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ c shredded Mozzarella or Italian blend cheese (we use an Italian blend)
- ¼ c grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Lightly salt a large pot of water, and bring to a boil. Prepare bowtie noodles according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, pour olive oil into a large, oven-safe skillet and set heat to medium. Add the Italian sausage and start to break it up as it browns. Stir in red pepper flakes, and continue breaking up the sausage until it's nicely crumbled and evenly browned.
- Add onion and garlic, and let it cook for about 5-6 minutes. Garlic should be fragrant, and onion should be tender and translucent.
- Stir in the tomatoes, heavy cream, and salt. The tomatoes will be whole, so break them up as you mix the ingredients. **NOTE**Be aware that if you smash the tomatoes, they'll splatter, so try to chop them up with your cooking utensil of choice. (If you would prefer, feel free to chop them on your cutting board before you add them to the mixture, and reserve the liquid for the sauce)
- Once all liquid components have been added to your mixture, bring everything to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken for 8-10 minutes.
- Turn on your oven's broiler setting, and allow it to get nice and hot
- Add bowtie noodles to sauce, and stir to combine.
- Spread shredded cheese, in an even layer, all over your pasta dish. I like to cover it from edge to edge, so use as much cheese as you need. Top shredded cheese with grated parmesan, in another even layer.
- Put your skillet into the oven, and let it broil until cheese has melted and turned golden brown, about 5-8 minutes. Keep an eye on it, so it doesn't burn. Once it's browned, remove from oven, let cool for a hot second, and enjoy!!
This looks so yummy! I don’t know why, but pasta is way better in bowtie form!
I agree!! It’s absolutely delicious 🙂