Cheesy Baked Mostaccioli: Comfort Food!
Baked Mostaccioli: assemble this hearty casserole with rich meat sauce and a creamy ricotta filling. Perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
- 8 oz mostaccioli pasta
- 1/2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 3 oz tomato paste
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook mostaccioli pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage with cooking oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; sauté until fragrant.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Simmer for 3 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup grated parmesan, chopped parsley, salt, black pepper, and egg for the cheese filling.
- Assemble in a 9x13-inch casserole dish: layer half of the pasta with meat sauce, then the cheese filling, then the remaining pasta with meat sauce.
- Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- Don't overcook the mostaccioli pasta; it should be al dente as it will continue to cook in the oven. - For a richer flavor, brown the Italian sausage well to develop a good sear before adding other ingredients. - To ensure even cooking and melting, spread the cheese filling and final mozzarella layer evenly across the casserole.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.