My recipe for baked mostaccioli is a warm, delicious, comforting meal. I designed this recipe to be simple but not compromise on flavor. Tubular pasta with Italian sausage and creamy cheese, this is a popular dinner that the whole family will love and it makes the best leftovers.

My favorite baked mostaccioli recipe

We love a good pasta night so I am always experimenting with different recipes that include pasta and sauce.

Lasagna is one of my favorites, so I decided to try making a version using mostaccioli pasta instead of the typical lasagna noodles and let me tell you, it was a huge hit, even with my picky eater.

Like lasagna, I layered an Italian sausage sauce with pasta, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cheese and then baked it to perfection.

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

Why you will love this recipe

• 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.

Baked mostaccioli 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. I will even add a layer of sliced pepperoni to make it a pizza pasta.
• Vegetables – Try adding some vegetables like diced mushrooms, eggplant, diced bell peppers, or even spinach.
• Cheese – You can substitute cottage cheese with ricotta cheese.

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 and then the cottage cheese mixture.

• Layer 2: Next, top with the rest of the pasta, then sauce mixture, 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.

• Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook another 10 minutes.

Heather’s 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.

How to serve baked mostaccioli

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

How to store leftovers

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.

More pasta recipes

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

• Green pasta sauce – This sauce is a great alternative to marinara. Made with spinach.
• Sour cream beef noodle bake – Cheesy, pasta bake that is always a hit.
• Supreme pizza casserole – Filled with all the favorite supreme pizza toppings.
• Buttered noodles – The perfect, easy side dish.
• Baked tortellini casserole – A simple pasta dish made with tortellini.
• Creamy rigatoni – This is a delicious recipe from my friend at The Recipe Rebel.