Baked Mostaccioli

This baked Mostaccioli is a comforting Italian-American classic made with tender pasta, savory meat sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. It's an easy, hearty dish that's perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and cozy gatherings.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian Inspired, Southern

Keyword baked-mostaccioli-recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 40

Total Time 55

Servings servings

Calories 561kcal

Ingredients

1 lb dry mostaccioli pasta
1 1/2 lb spicy or sweet Italian sausage
1 medium onion finely diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp dry Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic salt or plain salt
1/2 tsp black pepper Or crushed red pepper flakes to taste
2 24 oz jars marinara sauce i.e. Bertolli Four Cheese
1 8 oz Italian seasoned tomato sauce
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 cups small curd cottage cheese
1 15 oz container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese divided use
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese divided use
chopped fresh parsley for garnishing

Instructions

Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water per the package instructions just until al dente. Drain well, then set aside.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a 13x9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Add sausage and onion to a large deep skillet or pot. Cook the sausage over medium-high heat until no pink remains. (If you use a large pot it can double as a mixing bowl.)
Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, cooking for 1-2 minutes longer. Drain excess grease from pan.
To the sausage mixture add the marinara sauce, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Simmer on medium heat and stir just until the tomato paste has completely dissolved, then remove the pot from the heat.
Add cooked pasta to the sauce mixture and stir until fully coated.
To a separate medium mixing bowl add the cottage cheese, ricotta, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Mix with a large spoon or rubber spatula until fully combined.
Pour half of pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread with entire cottage cheese-ricotta mixture.
Pour remaining pasta mixture on top of the cottage cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
Transfer dish to the oven and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly around the edges and the cheese is lightly golden brown.
Garnish with fresh parsley, slice and serve.

Notes

- Protein: Ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken all work well for the meat sauce—choose your favorite or what you have on hand.

- Cheese: For the best flavor and melt, shred your own cheese. However, a pre-shredded Italian blend is a convenient, time-saving option.

- Onion: You can use a sweet onion like Vidalia or similar for a milder flavor or a yellow onion for the sauce.

- Pasta: Mostaccioli is traditional, but rigatoni or penne pasta are great substitutes and hold sauce just as well. Cook it until al dente per the package directions being careful not to over cook.

- Herbs: Fresh basil can be swapped in for parsley for a slightly different, aromatic twist.

- Vegetables: Boost the nutrition, fiber and texture by adding diced mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini to the sauce.

Nutrition