Easy Italian Sausage Pasta Casserole

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Looking for Jimmy Dean sausage recipes? Don't miss this delicious and easy Italian sausage pasta casserole. It's the perfect make-ahead dinner for busy families.

A pan of baked Italian sausage pasta casserole has a pair of oven mitts in the background.

Dinner is stressful enough during the normal parts of the year but during the holiday season, it becomes a downright pain in the neck.

My favorite strategy for ensuring I have enough time with my family while still getting food to the table is to cook double-batch casseroles I can have ready in a pinch.

We eat a portion of the dinner on the night I make it but then I freeze the second casserole for another stress-free dinner.

My mom has been making and serving this cheesy Italian sausage and spinach casserole for years. It is her go-to dinner to bring to friends and everyone raves over it.

Jump to:

Ingredients

The ingredients for the pasta casserole are on the counter.

The superstar of this casserole is the Jimmy Dean pork sausage found in the refrigerator section. It comes in several flavors, but for this bulk Italian sausage recipe I prefer the regular style since I can add Italian seasonings to match the final dish.

  • Bulk Sausage: You can use any brand of bulk sausage you prefer. If it is Mild or Regular, add Italian Seasonings. If it is already seasoned, you can skip adding the extra seasoning.
  • Pasta Shells
  • Baby Spinach
  • Onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Chicken Stock
  • Heavy cream
  • Roasted red pepper flakes

While the sausage makes it decadent, the copious amounts of spinach give it a nutritional boost.

Our favorite side dish to go with it is freshly chopped up pineapple. Those flavors complement it perfectly and keep things nice and easy.

Brown the Sausage

First, brown up the bulk sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

As the sausage cooks, add the seasonings, diced onion and minced garlic.

Continue to brown the sausage until it develops a nice toasted brown color. If you undercook the sausage it will be rubbery and chewy in the casserole. The toasted edges mean it has gotten nice and crispy.

The browned sausage has been cooked until lightly toasted and the onions are soft.

Add the Spinach

Add some chicken stock to the pan so that the liquid can help steam the spinach.

My mom's hands are pouring in the chicken broth for her recipe.

It will look like a ridiculous amount of spinach to start but it will cook down into the sausage and wilt fairly quickly.

The pan is very full with baby spinach that will cook down.

Once the spinach has wilted, add a touch of cream for richness. Toss together with the pasta and you're all set!

The spinach has wilted and a little cream has been added to the sauce.

Add the Pasta

My mom and I love to split this into the two small casserole pans. That way we have dinner tonight and another pan for later.

If you're feeding a hungry crowd, you'll want to put the whole recipe into one 9 x 13-inch pan.

The pasta has been stirred into the mixture and placed in two 8x8-inch baking pans. A spoon and a knife rest on a cutting board next to them.

Sprinkle on some fresh parmesan cheese before you bake it or wrap it in aluminum foil for the freezer.

My mom is sprinkling cheese over the filled baking pans.

Bake the Casserole

If it is heading straight to the oven, you still want to cover it with the foil before baking. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes so the cheese has a chance to turn golden brown.

Cheesy Italian sausage and spinach pasta casserole

While it's baking, chop up your fresh pineapple for the side. So easy!

Cheesy Italian sausage and spinach pasta casserole

I always feel like I've hit the jackpot when we have a busy night and I've got one of these dishes waiting for me in the freezer.

I can spend more time with the kids helping with homework or working on a holiday craft knowing that dinner is handled with almost no cleanup.

Make Ahead and Freezing Tips

The italian sausage casserole has been wrapped in aluminum foil for the freezer.

If you are going to freeze this Italian sausage pasta casserole, mom suggests freezing it BEFORE baking but said to be sure to really let it thaw well in your fridge overnight before you bake it.

If the casserole is still really cold in the middle, you'll need to add additional baking time. Keep it covered with foil until the last 20 minutes or so to prevent it from over browning.

More Jimmy Dean Sausage Recipes

Our family loves to use bulk Italian sausage, here are several great places for you to use up your Jimmy Dean sausage:

More Freezer Friendly Casserole Recipes

If you like to prep dinner ahead of time, you won't want to miss these delicious and easy freezer friendly casserole recipes:

📖 Recipe

A pan of baked Italian sausage pasta casserole has a pair of oven mitts in the background.

Italian Sausage Pasta Casserole

4.60 from 45 votes
This delicious Italian sausage pasta casserole mixes Jimmy Dean bulk sausage with fresh spinach for a perfect make-ahead dinner.
TOTAL TIME 55 minutes
PREP TIME 20 minutes
COOK TIME 35 minutes
YIELD 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Jimmy Dean bulk sausage or any bulk sausage brand you love
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 3 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend
  • freshly ground pepper
  • heavy sprinkle of roasted red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 1/3 cup cream
  • 2 bags or one large plastic tub of washed baby spinach
  • 1 (16 oz) box of pasta shells

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Set a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta for 5-6 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking.
  • Brown and crumble the sausage in a large skillet. Be sure it is golden brown or it will be rubbery when you bake it. Add the chopped onion, garlic, and seasonings and sauté until onions are translucent.
  • Pour in the chicken stock, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
  • Add the fresh spinach on top of the sausage and cover the pan with a lid. When the spinach has wilted, gently stir to combine. Pour in the heavy cream.
  • Gently toss the pasta together with the sausage mixture and then evenly divide into 2 8x8 freezer friendly dishes or 1 9x13 baking dish.
  • Sprinkle top with fresh parmesan cheese.

IF FREEZING:

  • Cover in tin foil and freeze. To bake, thaw overnight in fridge and then bake as directed.

IF BAKING IMMEDIATELY:

  • Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil cover and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.

Serving Tip

  • Serve with fresh pineapple. It is practically essential to the taste of the dish.

Recipe Notes

Variations:

You could also use a Hot/Spicy bulk sausage or a Sweet Italian sausage in this recipe.
COURSEPasta
CUISINEItalian

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This is one of the easiest Jimmy Dean sausage recipes ever! It's a perfect make-ahead meal. The Italian sausage and spinach casserole is a great freezer dinner.

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: 10 easy Christmas dinner menu ideas that will WOW your family
  2. Hi making this Recipe but going to Freeze it and was wondering how and what should I do to Prepare it to Freeze? Thank you so very much for all of the Very Yummy and tasting Recipes that Y'all share!

  3. 5 stars
    Hi making this Recipe but going to Freeze it and was wondering how and what should I do to Prepare it to Freeze? Thank you so very much for all of the Very Yummy and tasting Recipes that Y'all share!

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