Baked Mostaccioli

Name: Baked Mostaccioli Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb box (16 ounces) mostaccioli; 1 lb bulk Italian sausage; 1 large green pepper seeded, veined and chopped; 1 medium onion chopped; 4 garlic cloves minced; 4-5 cups marinara sauce or tomato sauce; 1 1/2 cups provel ropes or provolone shredded; 1 1/2 cups mozzarella shredded; 1/2 cup parmesan; Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

November 13, 2023 by Beth Pierce 122 Comments

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Baked Mostaccioli combines Italian sausage, peppers, garlic, onions, and marinara, all blanketed in oodles of mozzarella and provolone cheese. It is the ultimate easy comfort food meal, family-friendly and guaranteed to please!

This baked pasta is a hearty meal by itself, but for a complete company-worthy meal, I like to serve it with Triple Cheese Garlic Bread and Italian Chopped Salad with Fresh Italian Dressing.

Baked Mostaccioli combines Italian sausage, peppers, onions and marinara all blanketed in mozzarella and provolone cheese.

This is not your lunch ladies’ Mostaccioli! Or your wedding day Mostaccioli. This delicious Baked Mostaccioli is loaded with layers of fresh Italian sausage, sweet onions, green bell peppers, minced garlic, and marinara. It is then topped with fresh Parmesan, mozzarella, and provolone cheese. Baked Mostaccioli can be prepped in advance, loaded in the refrigerator, and baked at the optimum time.

We are one pasta-loving family. So easy, comforting, and so darn delicious every time. Are you and yours pasta lovers? Have you tried any of my other pasta dishes? Parmesan Pasta, Pasta con Broccoli, Baked Ziti, and this recipe are just a few of our favorites.

Baked Mostaccioli can be prepped in advance, loaded in the refrigerator and baked at the optimum time.

How to make Baked Mostaccioli

First, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook your mostaccioli noodles al dente according to package instructions and drain well. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage. When almost completely browned, add the green pepper and onions. Cook until the onions and green peppers begin to soften. Then add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for one minute. Now remove the pan from the heat and drain any excess grease.

Next, stir the cooked sausage mixture, cooked pasta, and marinara into a large casserole dish. Then top the pasta mixture with an even layer of grated Parmesan Cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, and shredded Provolone Cheese. Finally, bake in the oven for about twenty-five minutes or until the cheese is melted and very lightly browned. If desired garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

What to serve with it

Italian Salad
Garden Salad
Bread Sticks
Garlic Cheese Bread
Minestrone Soup
Tomato Basil Soup
Puff Pastry Pinwheels
Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
Fresh Fruit Salad

Recipe notes and helpful tips

Cook the mostaccioli al dente, which means still somewhat firm. It will be baked for a bit with the sausage, veggies, and sauce. You don’t want to overcook it.
Other types of tubular pasta to use include penne, ziti, or rigatoni.
Use good quality Italian sausage. Most butcher shops make their own, and it tastes so much better than processed sausage with all the preservatives in it.
Substitute ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork for the sausage.
Chop the green pepper and onion fairly fine so you get a little bit of each in almost every bite.
Use a high-quality, tasty marinara. They really have come a long way with jarred marinara. Some of them taste pretty darn good and do not have any preservatives in them.
Grate and shred your cheese fresh from the block. That way, you will not have preservatives, added enzymes, and cellulose.
Season with dried oregano, red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
For a change of pace, try adding fresh, cooked, chopped spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or ricotta cheese.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, cool completely and cover with two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Place in the freezer on a level surface for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave.

A super easy family friendly classic casserole with mostaccioli, Italian Sausage, peppers, onions, marinara and mozzarella.

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