Baked Mostaccioli Recipe

4.96 from 22 votes
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Baked mostaccioli is a warm, delicious, comforting meal. Tubular pasta with Italian sausage and creamy cheese. This is a dinner the whole family will love.

If you like baked pasta be sure to try baked ravioli, chicken lasagna, and baked macaroni and cheese.

Mostaccioli in a casserole dish

Why you will love this baked mostaccioli pasta

  • The ultimate comfort food. Full of cheese and sausage, this is a super satisfying meal.
  • Can be prepped ahead of time and baked when ready to eat.
  • Makes amazing leftovers! Perfect for two weeknight meals.

Ingredients

  • Italian sausage – Choose your favorite sausage. You could use sweet or hot. I have even used breakfast sausage.
  • Mostaccioli – If you can’t find mostaccioli, substitute with penne or ziti. You can even substitute with gluten-free pasta.
  • Cottage cheese – I prefer using small curd. You can also substitute with ricotta cheese.
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese – If possible, shred the cheese yourself. I find it melts much better than bagged, pre-shredded cheese.
  • Parmesan cheese – You can use grated or shredded.
  • Jarred marinara sauce – Choose your favorite brand.
  • Eggs – These help to bind the cottage cheese and cheese together.
  • Fresh parsley – This adds a little green and freshness to the dish.

Recipe variations

  • Meat – You can substitute pork sausage with turkey or chicken sausage. You could also use ground beef.
  • Vegetables – Try adding some vegetables like diced mushrooms, eggplant, diced bell peppers, or even spinach.

How to make baked mostaccioli

Scroll to the bottom for full, printable recipe, ingredients and video. 

  1. Prepare: Cook Italian sausage in large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Be sure to cook until browned and cooked through. Cook pasta according to package in a large pot. You can add olive oil to the water to help prevent sticking but I don’t think it’s necessary. Cook al dente, around 10 minutes.
  2. Sauce: Once the sausage has cooked. Pour in the marinara sauce. Stir and turn heat to low. Let it sit until ready to use.
  3. Filling: In a small bowl, mix together eggs, cottage cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  • Layer 1: Spray 9 x 13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Layer half of the meat sauce mixture on the bottom. Top with half of the cooked pasta.
Casserole dish with sauce, pasta and cheese


 
  • Layer 2: Next, layer all of the cottage cheese mixture. Top with the rest of the pasta, then sauce mixture, 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Casserole dish with pasta, sauce and cheese
  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook another 10 minutes.

Recipe tips

  • Be sure to cook the mostaccioli al dente since it will be baked for about 40 minutes.
  • Use your favorite jarred or homemade sauce. I am using Rao’s marinara for this recipe. If you like a little extra seasoning, feel free to stir in 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning with the sauce.
  • Want to sneak in some vegetables? Add diced green pepper in the skillet after cooking the sausage. Let cook for 2-3 minutes to soften.
  • Want to add a little heat? Try mixing in 1/2 tablespoon of red pepper flakes into the sauce.
  • Be sure to cook the mostaccioli al dente since it will be baked for about 40 minutes. You don’t want the pasta too soft or it will fall apart.

Serving suggestions

Try serving this baked pasta with a fresh salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.

How to store

Store: Let the baking dish and pasta completely cool. Cover with foil or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Freeze: This makes a great freezer meal. Make the dish according to instructions but do not bake. Cover with plastic wrap and foil. Store in freezer for 3 months.

Reheat: This dish makes wonderful leftovers. Cover with foil and bake for 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. If reheating from frozen, let thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven.

Spatula lifting up piece of casserole
What kind of noodle is Mostaccioli?

Mostaccioli is a short, tubular pasta that is actually a type of penne pasta, “penne lisce.”

Can you substitute penne noodles for Mostaccioli?

Yes, you can substitute penne for Mostaccioli.

More pasta recipes

These are some great pasta recipes even the pickiest eater will enjoy.

Baked Mostaccioli in a casserole dish
4.96 from 22 votes

Baked Mostaccioli

By Heather
Warm and comforting baked Mostaccioli recipe.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb box mostaccioli pasta
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage
  • 1 24-28 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Brown Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. While sausage is cooking, boil pasta according to package. (Around 10 minutes.) Drain pasta once finished cooking.
  • Once sausage is finished cooking, pour in marinara and stir the sausage to combine. Let sit on low heat until ready to use.
  • In a bowl, stir together cottage cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Add half the sauce mixture and spread over bottom of casserole dish.
  • Top with half the cooked pasta. Top with ALL of the cottage cheese mixture.
  • Top with remaining pasta, remaining sauce, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan. Cover dish in foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove baking dish from oven and remove foil. Finish baking for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Video

Notes

  • Be sure to cook the mostaccioli al dente since it will be baked for about 40 minutes. You don’t want to past too soft or it will fall apart. 
  • Use your favorite jarred or homemade sauce, I like Rao’s marinara. If you like a little extra seasoning, feel free to stir in 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning in with the meat sauce. 
  • Want to sneak in some vegetables? Add diced green pepper in the skillet after cooking the sausage. Let cook for 2-3 minutes to soften.  

Nutrition

Calories: 541kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 935mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 259mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
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