Are you looking for an easy comfort food to make for dinner? Look no further than my hearty beef and sausage pasta bake. This dish is an amalgamation of Italian, English, and American recipes- all rolled into one comfort food. Featuring tender Rotini pasta, a robust marinara sauce, a savory beef and sausage filling, and a creamy English cheddar topping. This dish is sure to please everyone in the family.
Hearty beef and sausage pasta bake is a regular favorite in my home. Its sustantial filling, and comforting flavors, make this dish a favorite of children and adults alike.
Recently, I made this dish as a part of a “new mom gift basket” for my sister. Bringing a hot meal to a mom with a new baby is the perfect way to show support and care.
Whether you know a new mom who would enjoy a hot meal- or whether you just want an easy family dinner, look no further.
I would be thrilled if you would join me, and my family, as I make this weekday meal. I will be sure to lace in between the layers of meat and sauce- my memories and recollections of how this dish reminds me of my time spent living in England.
What do you say? Let’s get into the kitchen and get to the bake.
A Pasta Bake Meal to Impress
After I left my home economic teaching job, I was a nanny for two young children in Chicago. During this time, I was also dating my husband. He came over from England for a visit to spend time with me and to meet my aunt and cousin (who I was the nanny for). We had a lovely time, and I have many sweet memories from this trip.
One evening, I asked Craig what he would like for dinner. He described an English comfort food- a pasta bake topped with melted English cheese. The cheese topping made it hearty and warm- much like a comforting English pub meal. Wanting to impress him, I made him my version of a hearty beef and sausage pasta bake. Thankfully he enjoyed it- going back for seconds and even thirds.
Later, as newlyweds, I made this dish for him in England. My husband worked the nightshift- so I would make the beef and sausage pasta bake for him during the day (before he had to go into work). It was a delicious and filling option that gave him energy to get through the long night.
Now with growing children, I often make this same meal as an easy comfort food that fills little bellies and leaves a smile on young faces.
Beef and Sausage Pasta Bake Recipe:
Beef and Sausage Pasta Bake
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Boil water in a medium sized saucepot and add noodles. (Cook the noodles until al dente- not too soft as they will continue to cook in the oven.)
- As the noodles are cooking, grate the cheese of your choosing. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, brown the ground beef and the ground sausage together. Drain the fat from the cooked meat. (A little fat left in the meat is okay.)
- Add the spices to the meat and stir until combined.
- Add the marinara sauce to the seasoned meat mixture. Add the 1/4 tsp sugar (the sugar is not necessary, but I always add it to my tomato sauce to balance acidity of the tomatoes).
- Allow the sauce to simmer on low for 15 minutes. taste the mixture and add more seasoning/herbs if desired.
- Drain the cooked pasta. Add the pasta to a medium sized casserole or baking dish.
- Carefully pour the marinara and meat sauce over the noodles and fold the sauce in- until all noodles are coated and covered.
- Add the grated cheese to the top of your pasta bake.
- Place the pasta back in the oven (uncovered) for about 15 minutes- or until the cheese is melted and begins to brown on the edges.
- Allow the pasta bake to cool a few minutes before serving.
Notes
How to Make My Hearty Beef and Sausage Pasta Bake (In Photos)
As per usual, I find using my photography to visually provide step by step instructions is helpful. Please do follow along (feeling free to comment on any questions you may have about this dish).
The Simple Pasta Bake Sauce
The Cheese Topping- the English Element:
Now for the cheese! This recipe can take many types of cheese. My personal favorites are an English cheddar, a New York white cheddar, or a good quality mozzarella cheese.
Personally, I like to buy a block of cheese and grate my own. You see, freshly grated cheese does not have any anti-caking agents added. This means not only does the cheese melt better, but it tastes better. All the while containing less additives.
Mozzarella cheese is also a nice addition if you want to lean into a more Italian flavored dish.
Bellow I have pictured my favorite cheeses to add to the top of my pasta bake. Both cheeses can be purchased from Aldi. Aldi always has delicious cheeses- and they are my go-to store for quality, delicious, cheese products.
A top tip for meal planning at the beginning of the week: if you want to save time, buy the block of cheese and grate it. Place the grated cheese in a Ziplock bag (with all the air pushed out and sealed). Then, when the busyness of the week is in full swing, you can pull out your pre-grated cheese, and it is ready to use. For, a little time and planning at the beginning of the week can save you time during the week.
How to Put the Pasta Bake Together
Frequently Asked Questions About Beef and Sausage Pasta Bake:
- Do I have to use both ground beef and sausage? No, you can use just beef if you like. However, the mix of the two meats adds an interesting flavor profile to the dish. In my opinion, mixing the two ground meats slightly elevates the flavors, by offering a combination of both the sausage and the beef.
- Can I use a different type of pasta in this dish? Yes, most dried noodles will work. I have also used Fusilli noodles or macaroni noodles.
- Can I use a different type of cheese on the top of my pasta bake? Yes, you can use any type of cheese you like. Sharp white cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan cheese are all good options to experiment with.
- Are there any other additions you have tried in this recipe? Yes, sautéed onions, a bit of Rosemary, even a half cup of sour cream.
- How do I reheat leftovers? Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave. You can also reheat the leftovers in the oven. Simply preheat the oven to 350 degrees F- and bake until warmed through. If needed, a piece of aluminum foil can be added to the top of the leftover pasta- thus preventing further browning.
- How do I store leftovers? Allow the leftovers to cool. Once cooled, cover the pasta bake with plastic wrap (making the pasta bake air-tight). Store in the refrigerator and use within 2 days.
- What sides to serve with this pasta bake? Some of my family’s favorite sides to eat alongside this beef and sausage pasta bake are green beans, a side salad, my easy rustic white bread with creamy English cheddar bread, roasted broccoli, or roasted asparagus.
- Can you make this recipe extra kid friendly for picky children? In my experience, this dish is generally kid approved. However, I recently I had some leftover World Cup pasta from Aldi (which the children and I had used to create some fun World Cup kid friendly crafts- you can see that post here.) Not wanting to waste the leftover pasta, I decided to create a fun version of my beef and sausage pasta bake (see photos below). My children found this simple swap of pasta type a delight. You can be very creative with a meal like this to please almost any child.
Budget Friendly Recipe Tips & A Simple Meal to Share:
If you need to feed lots of hungry people, this is the perfect recipe. More sauce and noodles can be added to the dish without adding much money. (Noodles and off-brand marinara are not generally expensive ingredients to add to serve more people.)
Choose a basic/off brand marinara sauce- as you will be adding herbs and spices to your recipe that will help to enhance any bland flavors. This meal is perfect for a cool autumn evening or a cold winter night. Children and teenagers (and husbands) generally appreciate a pasta bake. In fact, the flavors are similar to a lasagna… but without all the hard work. To see my homemade lasagna recipe, see my post here.
Pasta bakes are also perfect to make ahead of time. Make one to feed your family… and one to share. To see how I baked this pasta bake to feed my own family- and my sister’s family- with the recent birth of their youngest baby see my post here.
Final Thoughts:
To summarize, if you are looking for an easy dinner to make…look no further than this hearty beef and sausage pasta bake. Full of flavor… plenty to savor. This is a crowd-pleasing dish that will meet everyone’s dinner wish.
Fast, easy, filling, comfort meals are important to have in mind when you are feeding a growing family. Meals can be delicious without having to devote loads of time to the preparation. Pasta bakes combine carbohydrates with protein and vegetables- making it a one dish meal. Try adding my rustic white bread topped with English cheese recipe to make this meal complete. And don’t forget to share this meal with someone you love.
To see more traditional English recipes see my page here. For more ideas and inspirations throughout the week, see my Facebook and Pinterest pages. And as always, please subscribe to my blog (it is totally free) and will keep you informed on any blog happenings.
I hope to see you all again soon. Until next time…
~Elizabeth~
