Savory Mushroom and Sausage Pasta Bake

Savory Mushroom and Sausage Pasta Bake

A delightful pasta bake infused with savory sausage and mushrooms, coated in a creamy cheese sauce and topped with a crunchy breadcrumb layer.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces pasta
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 8 ounces mushrooms
• 1 medium onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups broth
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 cups cheese
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons parsley

Method

1. Gather all your ingredients together for easy access.
2. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish to prepare for the casserole.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add your pasta and cook it for 2 minutes less than the instructions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water, and keep it warm in the pot.
4. In a 12-inch skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until it is browned, approximately 8 minutes. Once it's cooked, remove it from the skillet and place it on paper towels to drain excess fat.
5. In the same skillet, add chopped mushrooms, diced onion, and minced garlic. Sauté until the moisture is gone and the vegetables are soft, about 8 minutes.
6. Incorporate soy sauce into the mushroom mixture and let it cook for another minute until absorbed.
7. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the pot with the warm pasta.
8. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the skillet, then whisk in flour, thyme, salt, and pepper, cooking this for about a minute to create a roux.
9. Gradually add in the broth, half-and-half, and Dijon mustard, stirring until the sauce thickens and begins to bubble. Mix in cheese and fresh spinach until the cheese is fully melted.
10. Combine the cheese sauce and cooked sausage with the pasta in the pot. If necessary, adjust the consistency of the sauce with the reserved pasta water, then pour everything into the prepared baking dish.
11. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and mix it with panko breadcrumbs and a tablespoon of parsley. Sprinkle this crunchy topping over the pasta.
12. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
13. Once baked, garnish with the final tablespoon of parsley before serving.