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Pasta • Italian

Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake Recipe

Simple, quick and delicious. This Cheesy Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake is perfect for quick dinners, can be made ahead and bakes in 20 minutes.

4.8 from 182 votes
50 mins
Total Time
6
servings
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Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake

How to Make the Best Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake

This Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake is the ultimate comfort food—hearty, satisfying, and ready in under an hour. With Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onions sautéed to perfection and combined with a rich pasta sauce and creamy mozzarella, every bite is absolutely delicious. It’s the kind of dish that brings people together around the dinner table.

Why You’ll Love This Pasta Bake

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights because it comes together quickly and can be made ahead. The beauty of this dish is in its simplicity: quality ingredients combined with straightforward techniques create something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. It’s also wonderfully adaptable—use red peppers or yellow ones, adjust the wine, or skip the optional red pepper flakes if you prefer a milder flavor. Plus, leftovers reheat beautifully, making it ideal for meal prep.

Make It Your Own

Don’t be afraid to customize this pasta bake to suit your preferences. Some families love adding fresh basil or parmesan cheese on top before serving. Others prefer using a different type of sausage or adding extra vegetables like zucchini or mushrooms. The foundation is solid, so feel free to make it your own while keeping the core technique the same.

Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake

Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta Bake

Simple, quick and delicious. This Cheesy Sausage and Pepper Pasta Bake is perfect for quick dinners, can be made ahead and bakes in 20 minutes.

4.8 from 182 votes
CoursePasta
CuisineItalian
Keywordbaked ziti, dishes with sausage and peppers, easy dinners, make ahead pasta, pasta bake
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time50 mins
Servings6 servings
Calories837kcal
AuthorRare Ivy
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Ingredients

Pasta and Sauce

Seasoning

Instructions

Prep and Cook Pasta

  1. Set a large pot of water to boil. Be sure to salt the water with about ½ tablespoon of salt. While the water comes to a boil, prepare the sauce.

Make the Sauce

  1. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil over high heat until shimmering. Season with salt and pepper, then sauté the peppers and onions until softened but not mushy, 4 to 5 minutes. Once cooked, transfer to a separate bowl.
  2. Add the loose Italian sausage to the sauté pan. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces (using a potato masher is a great technique). Once the sausage is browned, add the peppers and onions back to the pan.
  3. Deglaze the pan with half the white wine, scraping the bottom for browned bits. Stir in the pasta sauce. Add the remaining wine to the empty pasta sauce jar, cover and shake, then stir into the sauce.

Bake

  1. Turn off heat on the sauce and preheat the oven to 375°F while waiting for the pasta to cook.
  2. Once the pasta water reaches a roiling boil, add the pasta. Stir so it doesn't clump. Cook until just al dente according to package directions. Drain and stir into the sauce.
  3. Add half the mozzarella into the sauce, stirring to evenly distribute.
  4. Transfer the pasta mixture into a buttered 9x13 baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella pieces. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbling. Serve right away or reheat later and enjoy!

Notes

  • This pasta bake can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking.
  • Using a potato masher to break up the sausage creates a great texture.
  • Be sure the pasta is al dente before adding to the sauce, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
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