Baked Pasta With Sausage, Mushrooms and Mascarpone Recipe

By
Deborah Mele
Deborah Mele
Deborah Mele is a self-taught cook whose passion for Italian cuisine began almost 40 years ago when she married into a large Italian family overflowing with talented cooks. After moving to Italy, Deborah created her blog Italian Food Forever to share her passion for Italian food.
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Updated May. 13, 2019
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Deborah Mele

Note: I use mild Italian sausage in my pasta dish, but if you like a little heat, feel free to use spicy Italian. I also use Baby Bella mushrooms, but you could use a combination of mushrooms, or even button mushrooms if you prefer. It is best to use a short dried pasta for this dish such as penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or pasta shells. If you prefer to create a vegetarian version of this dish, skip the sausage and add additional mushrooms, chopped artichoke hearts, or a combination of the two. You can either make this dish as one large 13- by 9-inch casserole, or bake 6 individual smaller casseroles.

Recipe Details

Baked Pasta With Sausage, Mushrooms and Mascarpone Recipe

Active 45 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 3 links Italian sausage (about 3/4 pound total), casings removed (see note)

  • 8 ounces fresh Baby Bella mushrooms, sliced (see note)

  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion (about 1/2 medium)

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese

  • 1/2 cup whole milk

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pound pasta of choice such as penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or pasta shells, (see note)

  • 1/3 cup breadcrumbs

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 ounce)

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until slightly smoking, and add the sausage meat. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a fork as it cooks. Add the onions, mushrooms, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the mascarpone cheese, milk, and chopped parsley. Stir to mix well, and continue to cook until the mixture is thick, about five minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and keep warm.

  2. Adjust an oven rack to the center position and preheat oven to 375°F. Cook the pasta in the boiling water, removing it two to three minutes less than the recommended cooking time. It should still retain a slightly raw bite in the center. Reserve a small cup of pasta water, drain, and return pasta to the pot. Toss the pasta with the mushroom and sausage sauce. If the sauce is very thick add about 1/4 cup of the pasta water to loosen.

  3. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parsley, parmesan, and remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, rubbing the oil into the crumbs with your fingertips.

  4. Transfer the pasta to a 13- by 9-inch casserole dish (or 6 smaller ones) and sprinkle the crumb topping over the pasta. Bake until the pasta is bubbly and top is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
823 Calories
58g Fat
56g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 823
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 74%
Saturated Fat 28g 141%
Cholesterol 136mg 45%
Sodium 891mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 56g 20%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 6mg 29%
Calcium 131mg 10%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 487mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)