Baked Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
A hearty baked pasta dish combining flavorful Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and cheesy goodness for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
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- 0.5 cup grated Pecorino Romano
- 8 oz fat-free ricotta
- 8 oz part-skim mozzarella (shredded)
- 14 oz uncooked sweet Italian chicken sausage (removed from casing)
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta (wheat or gluten-free)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves smashed garlic (roughly chopped)
- 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed of excess liquid)
- to taste salt and fresh pepper
- 4 cups Quick Marinara Sauce (or jarred)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Brown sausage in a skillet, then add garlic, spinach, salt, and pepper; cook briefly. Mix in marinara sauce.
- Layer half of pasta, sauce, and cheese mixture in the dish; repeat with remaining ingredients. Top with remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake 6-7 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are browned.
Notes
Use fresh spinach for best flavor and ensure sausage is fully cooked before baking.