Description
This Sausage and Bacon Pasta Bake is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines savory sausage meat, crispy bacon, and a rich tomato-cream sauce, all baked to perfection with a generous topping of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. It’s the ultimate comfort food, perfect for family dinners or meal prepping for the week. The addition of fennel seeds and lemon zest adds a unique twist, elevating the classic pasta bake to a new level of deliciousness.
Ingredients
Pasta and Meat
400g elicoidali pasta (or penne, ziti, rigatoni)
250g bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
500g sausage meat, casings removed
Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ teaspoons fennel seeds
690g jar of passata
⅔ cup light or single cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼–½ teaspoon sea salt (to taste)
Cheese
100g Parmesan cheese, finely grated (divided)
300g mozzarella cheese, grated
Instructions
-
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. -
Prepare the Meat
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same skillet, add the sausage meat and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside. -
Sauté Aromatics
In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and fennel seeds, cooking for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant. -
Make the Sauce
Pour in the passata, stirring to combine with the aromatics. Add the cooked bacon and sausage back into the skillet. Stir in the cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. Simmer the sauce for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. -
Assemble the Bake
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the sauce. Stir in half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the grated mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheese. -
Bake
Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is golden brown. -
Rest and Serve
Allow the pasta bake to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. This helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Sausage Meat: Using sausage meat without casings allows for easier integration into the sauce.
- Passata: A smooth tomato purée that forms the base of the sauce. If unavailable, substitute with crushed tomatoes.
- Cheese: For best results, use freshly grated cheeses. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect melting.
- Make-Ahead: This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake. If baking from cold, add an extra 10–15 minutes to the baking time.
- Freezing: The assembled, unbaked dish can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 1,172
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1,550mg
- Fat: 80g
- Saturated Fat: 40g
- Unsaturated Fat: 40g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 60g
- Cholesterol: 200mg
Keywords: sausage pasta bake, bacon pasta bake, cheesy pasta bake, comfort food, easy dinner