Baked Penne with Italian Sausage

Recipe View Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). (5 minutes)

Recipe View Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions, about 10-12 minutes, until al dente. Drain well, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water. (15 minutes)

Recipe View While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, crumbling it with a spoon, and the chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and the onion is softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease. (10 minutes)

Recipe View Pour the white wine into the skillet and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This adds depth of flavor to the sauce. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with their juices), and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the flavors to meld together. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency. (12 minutes)

Recipe View Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. (3 minutes)

Recipe View Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top evenly with the shredded mozzarella cheese. (2 minutes)

Recipe View Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. (25 minutes)

Recipe View Let the baked penne rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!