pasta

Pasta dinners are always a hit with my family. And since noodle dishes are always easy to freeze, they’re perfect for meal prep! This flavorful Italian sausage pasta bake makes the perfect freezer friendly dinner. It’s a delicious dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal. And since it’s made with veggies, it’s also a healthy one pot meal that’s sure to be a hit with everyone in the family.Our family loves our pasta meals! This one has a nice contrast of flavours with the sausage, spinach, and tomatoes. If you’re also a pasta fan, you may also enjoy our Alfredo Tortellini Bake, Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake, and Johnny Marzetti Casserole.

Italian Sausage Pasta Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. bow tie pasta
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 28 ounce can Italian style plum tomatoes, drained
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream or heavy cream
• 1 cup spinach leaves, sliced into strips

Freezing instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling water. Drain the water from the pasta and rinse under cold water. Set the pan aside.
2. Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When the meat is cooked through, drain the fat from the pan and remove the pan from heat.
3. Allow the sausage to cool slightly, then transfer it to a large freezer bag.
4. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and spinach to the bag. Use your fingers to squish the ingredients inside the bag to break the tomatoes into smaller pieces and combine the sauce ingredients.
5. Add the cooked pasta, then seal the bag and shake to combine.
6. Open the corner of the bag to release the excess air. Reseal and freeze.

Serving instructions:

1. Thaw the pasta in the refrigerator.
2. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Transfer the thawed pasta to the casserole dish and cover the pan with foil.
4. Bake for 40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly.

Is Pasta Freezer Friendly?

The trick to freezing pasta is cooking it slightly under what is called for in the package directions so that it doesn’t get mushy when you reheat it. You can easily freeze cooked pasta and reheat it in the oven for a delicious dinner any night of the week.  

When you’re freezing pasta for dinner, there are two methods for storing your noodles in the freezer:

1. Freezer bags. Using freezer bags to store your pasta is great for saving space in your freezer. Simply add your cooked pasta and sauce to the bag, remove excess air from inside the bag, and flatten it before placing it in the freezer.
2. Casserole dish. If you’re making a freezer pasta bake, you might want to store your prepared dinner in a dish for easier cooking. After preparing your pasta bake ingredients, just transfer everything to a freezer-friendly dish and store it in the freezer. When you’re ready to cook, transfer the dish to the refrigerator to thaw and bake according to the recipe instructions.

Should I Use Spicy or Sweet Sausage?

There are a variety of different sausage flavors to choose from, which means you can easily create a customized pasta bake for your family depending how spicy they like their dinner! You can use spicy sausage in this pasta dish to add a kick of spice to your meal. Or use sweet sausage if your family doesn’t like too much spice. You can even use a combination of the two sausage varieties for even more flavor!

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Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pasta

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz. bow tie pasta
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage browned
• 1/2 cup onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 28 ounce can Italian style plum tomatoes drained
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream or heavy cream
• 1 cup spinach leaves sliced into strips

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling water. Drain the water from the pasta and set the pan aside to cool.

2. Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When the meat is cooked through, drain the fat from the pan and remove the pan from heat.
3. Allow the sausage to cool slightly, then transfer it to a large freezer bag.
4. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, cream, and spinach to the bag. Use your fingers to squish the ingredients inside the bag to break the tomatoes into smaller pieces and combine the sauce ingredients.
5. Add the cooked pasta, then seal the bag and shake to combine.
6. Open the corner of the bag to release the excess air. Reseal and freeze.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Transfer the thawed pasta to a greased casserole dish and cover the pan with foil.

3. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly.

There’s nothing better than a dish of hot lasagna for dinner. But if you’re short on time, there’s no reason you have to slave over a stovetop cooking pasta and layering it in a baking dish. With the help of this quick and easy layered ravioli bake, you can enjoy all the flavors of lasagna without all the hard work. And since this casserole is freezer-friendly, you can prepare your dinner ahead of time and thaw it out when you’re ready to cook dinner.We are big fans of pasta bakes in our house. We like to change it up from time to time such as with our Alfredo Tortellini Bake, Pastitcio, or Johnny Marzetti Casserole.

Layered Ravioli Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 16 oz. fresh or frozen ravioli with the filling of your choice
• 24 oz. jarred or homemade pasta sauce
• 8 oz. frozen chopped spinach
• 15 oz. ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Freezing instructions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the ricotta, frozen chopped spinach, and Italian seasoning.
2. Spread a very thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish or 9×13 aluminum tray.
3. Lay out roughly half of the ravioli in a single layer over the top of the pasta sauce.
4. Pour half of the sauce over the top of the ravioli, making sure to fully cover the pasta.
5. Layer half the ricotta mixture. 
6. Then, top the sauce with one cup of the mozzarella cheese.
7. Layer the remaining ravioli on top of the shredded cheese, then pour on the rest of the pasta sauce and remaining ricotta mixture.
8. Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Finish by sprinkling the Parmesan cheese all over the top of the casserole.
9. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the casserole, then cover the entire pan with foil. Freeze the pan until you’re ready to bake.

Serving instructions:

1. Thaw the ravioli lasagna in the refrigerator.
2. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the foil and take off the plastic wrap, then replace the foil.
3. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes uncovered until bubbling.
4. Let the casserole stand for a few minutes before serving.

You can also choose to bake this dish right from frozen at 375° for an hour and a half.

Can You Bake Frozen Ravioli Instead of Boiling?

While the instructions on the back of your frozen ravioli package may suggest that the pasta be boiled, there’s no reason you can’t bake your ravioli instead. They key to ensuring your pasta gets tender as it bakes is making sure that it’s fully coated in sauce. The pasta uses the moisture in your sauce to cook, allowing you to bake your ravioli without the need for water at all.

As you’re layering your ravioli in your baking dish, make sure each piece is fully coated in sauce. If you notice part of the pasta is sticking up out of the sauce, use the back of your spoon to lightly press it back down to ensure it properly bakes.

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe Tips & Tricks

This quick and easy casserole is perfect for freezer cooking. And since it’s so simple to make, it’s just as simple to customize. Try these ravioli lasagna recipe ideas as you’re putting together your meal plan.

• Try different ravioli. One of the simplest ways to change up this recipe is to try different ravioli flavors. Use cheese or beef ravioli for a more traditional lasagna. Or mix in unique ravioli options, like spinach, chicken, or lobster, for a different casserole every time you make this easy recipe.
• Add some ground beef. Add even more flavor and a little bit of extra protein to your casserole with the help of ground beef. Cook the beef in a skillet until it’s brown, then mix it into your tomato sauce. After that, you can follow the recipe as written to make a meaty ravioli bake.
• Omit the spinach. If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, just leave out the spinach.
• Swap tomato sauce for Alfredo. Give your ravioli bake a creamy texture and flavor with the help of alfredo sauce. Simply swap traditional tomato sauce with Alfredo sauce for a totally new ravioli bake flavor. You can even try using Alfredo and red pasta sauce mixed together to create a Rosé sauce.
• Season with fresh herbs. Another simple way to add tons of flavor to your lasagna casserole is with the help of fresh herbs. Mix some chopped parsley, oregano, or basil into the sauce in place of the Italian seasoning before you add it to your casserole to enhance the flavors in your marinara sauce. And when you’re ready to serve your casserole, sprinkle fresh herbs over the top for even more flavor.

What Should I Serve with Ravioli Lasagna?

Since this easy freezer casserole has all the flavors of traditional lasagna, there are a variety of easy sides you can serve with your ravioli bake! Try these simple side dish recipes the next time you prepare this lazy lasagna for your family:

• chopped salad with Italian dressing
• Caesar salad
• breadsticks
• toasted garlic bread
• steamed vegetables
• roasted broccoli and cauliflower

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Layered Ravioli Bake

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pasta

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 16 oz. ravioli fresh or frozen with your choice of filling
• 24 oz. pasta sauce
• 8 oz. spinach frozen, chopped
• 15 oz. ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shredded

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the ricotta, frozen chopped spinach, and Italian seasoning.

2. Spread a very thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish or 9x13 aluminum tray.
3. Lay out roughly half of the ravioli in a single layer over the top of the pasta sauce.
4. Pour half of the sauce over the top of the ravioli, making sure to fully cover the pasta.
5. Layer half the ricotta mixture.

6. Then, top with one cup of the mozzarella cheese.

7. Layer the remaining ravioli on top of the shredded cheese, then pour on the rest of the pasta sauce and remaining ricotta mixture.

8. Add the rest of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Finish by sprinkling the Parmesan cheese all over the top of the casserole.

9. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly on top of the casserole, then cover the entire pan with foil.

10. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°. Remove the foil and take off the plastic wrap, then replace the foil.

3. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 20-25 minutes uncovered until bubbling.
4. Let the casserole stand for a few minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Alternately, you can bake this dish from frozen at 375° for 1 1/2 hours.

When it comes to freezer cooking, pasta dishes are always a great choice. In addition to being simple to prepare and reheat, noodle dishes are also filling and popular with everyone in the family. But the next time you’re planning your meals and looking for a simple pasta recipe to add the rotation, skip the plain spaghetti and try something new! This easy Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe is the perfect simple dinner idea that is sure to satisfy everyone in the family.

What is Johnny Marzetti Casserole?

This delicious dish is an Ohio recipe that was originally created in a Columbus restaurant owned by Italian immigrant Teresa Marzetti. The baked pasta dish, which was made with ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and noodles, is named after her brother-in-law, Johnny. The Marzetti Restaurant opened in the city, near The Ohio State University, in 1919 and by the 1940s, the namesake dish was a popular dinner option across the Midwest. In addition to ordering the classic pasta dish at restaurants around Ohio, many Midwesterners started whipping up this simple dish at home for their families.

Is Johnny Marzetti the Same as Goulash?

This casserole recipe has similar ingredients as goulash, which is why many people wonder if the two recipes are the same. Although the original Johnny Marzetti casserole is sometimes called American goulash, it isn’t the same as the traditional Hungarian dish.

The recipe that originated in Hungary is typically made with elbow macaroni and seasoned with paprika and other spices. Another notable difference between the two dishes is how they’re cooked. While goulash is usually prepared in a big pan on the stovetop, Johnny Marzetti is a baked casserole that is typically cooked in the oven.

Can You Freeze Johnny Marzetti Casserole?

This quick and easy recipe is so simple to freeze and reheat. All you need to do is prepare the casserole according to the recipe instructions, cover it with aluminum foil, and freeze it until you’re ready to eat. Before you start cooking, make sure to thaw the casserole, then bake it until it’s cooked through and enjoy.

How to Make Johnny Marzetti Casserole:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry penne pasta
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 lb. white mushrooms, sliced
• 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 15 oz. can tomato sauce 
• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Assembly instructions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. It’s important not to overcook as the pasta will continue cooking through in the oven. Drain well and return to the pasta pot.
2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the onions, minced garlic, and chopped green pepper. 
3. Toss in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to soften. 
4. Drain the beef mixture and return to the skillet.
5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings. 
6. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
7. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta in the pasta pot and give it a stir.
8. Stir in half of the cheese.
9. Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish or aluminum foil tray. Cover tightly with 2 layers of aluminum foil. 
10. Put the rest of the cheese in a medium size freezer bag. Seal and set on top of the tray and place the tray and bag in the freezer.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw. Set the bag of cheese to the side.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°. 
3. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes if thawed or one hour if frozen. Remove the aluminum foil and top with the cheese from the bag. Continue baking for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Recipe Substitutions and Ideas

This delicious recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. But that doesn’t mean you have to follow the recipe exactly! There are a few simple substitutions you can make to adjust your recipe to suit your tastes and dietary restrictions. Try making these recipe swaps to allow you to work with ingredients you already have on hand:

• Use different pasta. You can easily swap out the penne pasta for a different noodle variety. Elbow macaroni noodles, rotini pasta, or egg noodles are simple substitutions you can make that won’t affect the taste or cook time of the dish.
• Make it gluten free. Since this recipe uses pasta, you’ll need to make a substitution if you’re looking for a gluten free dinner idea. Use gluten free penne pasta (or any other gluten free noodle variety) instead of traditional pasta for a quick fix. Or try substituting rice for pasta for a different take on the recipe.
• Use ground turkey. Lighten up the dish by swapping the ground beef with ground turkey. You’ll be able to significantly reduce the fat content of your dish without sacrificing the flavour.
• Serve with a salad. Add some freshness to your freezer dinner by tossing together a quick salad while your casserole is cooking. A fresh salad is the perfect healthy side dish to go along with this hearty pasta dish.

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Freezer Friendly Johnny Marzetti Casserole

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: casserole, pasta

Ingredients

• 2 cups penne pasta dry
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
• 1 lb. white mushrooms sliced
• 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Do not overcook. Drain well and return to pasta pot.

2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the onions, minced garlic, and chopped green pepper.

3. Toss in the mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms begin to soften.
4. Drain the beef mixture and return to the skillet.
5. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings.
6. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
7. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta in the pasta pot and give it a stir.
8. Stir in half of the cheese.
9. Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish or aluminum foil tray. Cover tightly with 2 layers of aluminum foil.
10. Put the rest of the cheese in a medium size freezer bag. Seal and set on top of the tray and place the tray and bag in the freezer.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw. Set the bag of cheese to the side.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°.
3. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes if thawed or one hour if frozen. Remove the aluminum foil and top with the cheese from the bag. Continue baking for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Check out some of our other make ahead pastas:

• Baked Tortellini Alfredo
• Easy Tuna Casserole
• Chicken Pasta Bake
• Chicken and Spinach Penne Alfredo
• Make Ahead Mac and Cheese