# Required Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound penne or fusilli pasta
→ Sausage
02 - 1.1 pounds budget pork sausages, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Sauce
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 14 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 0.5 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
11 - 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
12 - 0.75 cup grated cheddar cheese
→ Garnish
13 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
05 - Pour in chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Season with dried herbs, chili flakes if desired, salt, and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta with sausage sauce. Stir in half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and evenly sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar over the top.
08 - Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
