ITALIAN SAUSAGE RIGATONI BAKE

Italian Sausage Rigatoni Bake image

This casserole combines all of our favorite Italian flavors, but the fresh mozzarella really sets it apart! -Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 55m

Yield 2 casseroles (4 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
5 cups marinara sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons half-and-half cream
1 pound sliced part-skim mozzarella cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions; drain., In a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms and pepper over medium-high heat until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain. Stir in marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cream. Add rigatoni and toss to coat., In each of 2 greased 8-in. square baking dishes, layer one-fourth of the rigatoni mixture and one-fourth of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, until heated through and cheese is melted, 25-35 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if tops brown too quickly.) Freeze option: Cool unbaked casseroles; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake casseroles as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 535 calories, Fat 26g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 71mg cholesterol, Sodium 774mg sodium, Carbohydrate 48g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 29g protein.