This Italian Bake combines tender chicken, savory Italian sausage, pasta, and vibrant vegetables all smothered in rich spaghetti sauce and topped with a melty blend of pizza cheese. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep, this dish is easy to make, freezes well, and brings the taste of classic Italian comfort food right to your table.
Why You’ll Love It:
1. Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: This dish has all the elements of a classic Italian comfort meal—rich tomato sauce, savory sausage, juicy chicken, and lots of cheese!
2. Perfect for Meal Prep: Make a big batch, and you’ll have leftovers that taste even better the next day. It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can enjoy it on a busy night.
3. Customizable Ingredients: You can swap out proteins, add more vegetables, or play around with different pasta types, making this recipe versatile and adaptable to suit your tastes.
4. Simple and Quick to Prepare: While it has multiple components, the steps are easy and manageable. After a bit of prep, you just assemble, bake, and enjoy.
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Key Ingredients:
Chicken Breasts: For convenience, cook your chicken breasts ahead of time by baking, grilling, or boiling until they’re no longer pink inside. Let them cool slightly before cutting them into bite-sized pieces. Rotisserie chicken is a great alternative if you’re short on time.
Italian Sausage: Italian sausage adds a boost of flavor with its blend of herbs and spices. You can use mild, hot, or even sweet Italian sausage depending on your preference. For a leaner option, try using turkey or chicken sausage.
Pasta: Choose a sturdy pasta shape like penne, rigatoni, or shells to hold up well in the bake. Cooking the pasta al dente is crucial because it will continue to cook as it bakes with the sauce. Overcooking the pasta at this stage can lead to a mushy casserole.
Spaghetti Sauce: For a rich, flavorful base, choose a quality spaghetti sauce. If you’d like a homemade touch, you can enhance store-bought sauce by adding fresh garlic, Italian herbs, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Bell Peppers: Bell peppers add a sweet, slightly crunchy texture that balances the richness of the sausage and cheese. Use a mix of red and green bell peppers for both color and flavor. You can also add extra veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.
Cheese: A pizza cheese blend with mozzarella and cheddar is perfect for a melt-in-your-mouth, bubbly topping. For a more authentic Italian flavor, you could substitute part of the cheese with grated Parmesan or provolone.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
2. Prepare the Ingredients
Chicken: Cook the chicken breasts by baking, boiling, or grilling until they’re fully cooked (no longer pink inside). Let the chicken cool slightly and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage links until browned and cooked through. Once slightly cooled, cut the sausage into bite-sized pieces.
Vegetables: Chop the onion and cut the red and green bell peppers into chunks. This adds both color and flavor to the casserole.
3. Cook the Pasta
Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Be sure to cook it just until al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
Drain the pasta and set aside.
4. Combine Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, chicken pieces, sausage slices, chopped onion, and bell pepper chunks.
Pour in the spaghetti sauce and mix well, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly coated with the sauce.
5. Assemble the Casserole
Transfer the pasta mixture to a large, deep baking dish. If it doesn’t fit into one dish, you can split the mixture between two dishes and freeze one for a future meal.
Spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish.
6. Top with Cheese
Generously sprinkle the shredded pizza cheese over the top of the casserole, covering it evenly for a delicious melted layer.
7. Bake the Casserole
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly, and the dish is thoroughly heated.
Serve and Enjoy
Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your cheesy, hearty chicken and sausage pasta casserole!
Serving Suggestions:
This Italian Bake pairs well with simple sides for a balanced meal. Here are some ideas:
Garlic Bread or Breadsticks: Perfect for soaking up any extra sauce.
Side Salad: A fresh salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette complements the hearty bake.
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts make great side dishes.
Glass of Red Wine: If you enjoy wine, a glass of Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon pairs nicely with the Italian flavors.
Storage and Meal Prep Tips:
Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) or in the microwave until warmed through.
Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! Assemble the dish up to the baking step, then cover it tightly with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To cook from frozen, bake covered at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour, then uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until heated through.
Make-Ahead Tips: You can prepare this casserole a day ahead, store it in the refrigerator, and bake it when ready to serve. Just allow for a few extra minutes of baking time.
Variations:
Here are some fun ways to change up this recipe based on your tastes:
Vegetarian Italian Bake: Omit the chicken and sausage and load up on vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, and eggplant. Add some extra cheese or a meatless Italian sausage substitute for added texture and flavor.
Spicy Italian Bake: Use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Creamy Italian Bake: For a richer sauce, stir in a cup of ricotta cheese or a few dollops of cream cheese to the pasta mixture before baking.
Different Pasta Options: Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option, or try whole wheat pasta for added fiber. Rigatoni or fusilli are also great alternatives if you don’t have penne or macaroni.
Herb and Cheese Blend: If you love extra herbs, sprinkle fresh basil, oregano, or parsley over the top after baking. For cheese lovers, consider adding a handful of shredded Parmesan or Asiago for added flavor.
Conclusion:
This Italian Bake recipe combines the best of Italian comfort food into one simple, crowd-pleasing dish. With a mix of tender chicken, flavorful sausage, and colorful veggies all covered in rich tomato sauce and melted cheese, this casserole is sure to become a go-to in your kitchen. Plus, it’s an excellent make-ahead meal that freezes and reheats well, making it perfect for busy families or entertaining.
Whether you serve it on a cozy night in or at a potluck, this Italian Bake is a winner every time. So grab a big spoon, dig in, and enjoy every deliciously cheesy, saucy bite!
Italian Bake
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken breasts cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 links Italian sausage cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 jars spaghetti sauce or cans, Hunt's recommended
- 1 pound pasta penne, macaroni, shells, or your favorite type
- 1 package pizza cheese blend mozzarella, cheddar, and other cheeses
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 bell peppers 1 red and 1 green, cut into chunks
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Cook the chicken breasts until fully cooked and no longer pink inside. Let cool, then cut into bite-sized pieces. In a skillet, cook Italian sausage links over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Let cool and cut into bite-sized pieces. Chop the onion and cut the red and green bell peppers into chunks.
- In a large pot, boil water and cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, sausage, chopped onion, and bell pepper chunks. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and mix well, ensuring everything is coated.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a large, deep baking dish. Spread evenly in the dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded pizza cheese blend over the top of the casserole, covering it evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.