A delicious and easy pasta casserole to make for a crowd! Topped with our 5 minute Bechamel Sauce and using store bought Marinara it comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time!
Ingredients
Bechamel Sauce:
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
Pasta and Sauce:
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage; pork - chicken or turkey, removed from the casings.
- 1 pound ziti pasta penne can be substituted
- 2 26-ounce jars marinara sauce
- salt - to taste
- pepper - to taste
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (While water is coming to a boil start your Bechamel)
- Add the pasta and cook according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes.
For the Bechamel Sauce:
- In large skillet melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk until fully incorporated and no visible signs of flour remain, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in the milk and continue to stir until thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes. The sauce is perfect when it coats the back of a spoon.
- Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Stir in the Parmesan and taste and adjust the seasoning. (We almost always have to add a bit more salt but it depends on how salty your cheese is so tasting is the key!)
- Remove the Bechamel from the heat and set aside.
Brown the sausage:
- Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until crumbly and cooked through. (If you prefer, and we do, drain any grease if necessary).
- Pour the marinara sauce into the ground sausage and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Reserve ⅓ cup of starchy pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Pour the hot pasta back into the pot you cooked it in.
- Add the sausage and marinara mixture to the pasta.
- Add the reserved water back into the pasta and sauce. This helps marry the sauce and pasta. Combine well.
Assemble and bake:
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Pour the pasta, sausage, and marinara into dish.
- Pour the Bechamel sauce over the top of the pasta and spread out with a spoon.
- Top with an additional ½ cup of Parmesan and bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbly around the sides and the sauce is slightly brown.
- Serve with crusty french bread and a simple salad!