Yumm.
Here is my recipe for Cheesy Pasta Mostaccioli, made 100% with ingredients from ALDI!
I have made this recipe many times at home, especially in the wintertime when it’s sooo cold and everyone is just craving a warm, comforting dish.
It’s super easy and quick – way quicker than making a lasagna but just as good!
And it’s a great frugal meal because it’s made completely with ingredients you can easily find at ALDI. I love ALDI because the quality is so great and the prices are always so low.
This dish also serves many – we always feed 4 and have leftovers to spare. It’s filling, and goes great with garlic toast, cheese sticks, or salad – all of which you can also get at ALDI for cheap.
Here are the ingredients:
- 1 lb mild or hot Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 pound (1 box) of penne rigate (or similar) pasta, cooked and drained
- 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce
- 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup of shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
The nice thing about these ingredients is that they are available year-round (none are seasonal).
You can use however much or little onion you want.
I sometimes use Reggano Traditional Pasta Sauce, and sometimes Marinara Sauce. I recommend trying different varieties until you find your favorite.
I haven’t found a pasta actually called mostaccioli at ALDI, but penne is basically the same thing. Mostaccioli pasta is essentially a tubular pasta and there are different varieties.
I use Italian mild sausage, but it works with hot, too.
There may be different varieties of Mozzarella shredded cheese but any will do.
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until cooked, about 10 minutes.
Add in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook about 3 minutes until tender and translucent. (I used a lot of onion but you can use however much or little you want.)
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the Italian sausage mixture, cooked pasta, and jar of pasta sauce until well blended.
Step 3
Next, layer the pasta mixture in a pan with cheese.
Put half of the pasta mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish (make sure to spread it out so it’s filling the bottom). Top with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese. Scoop the remaining pasta mixture into the dish to form a second layer.
Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
This layering helps ensure lots of cheesy flavor throughout the whole dish!
Step 4
Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Can garnish with fresh parsley if you wish.
Enjoy!
Serve with garlic toast or salad or wine (well, for the adults) or all of the above!
It’s SUPER tasty!
PRINT THIS RECIPE!
Cheesy Pasta Mostaccioli Recipe (Made 100% with Ingredients from ALDI!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 pound (1 box) of penne rigate (or similar) pasta, cooked and drained
- 1 jar pasta sauce (24 oz)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium-high heat until cooked, about 10 minutes.Add in the chopped onion and garlic. Cook about 3 minutes until tender and translucent. (I used a lot of onion but you can use however much or little you want.)
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the Italian sausage mixture, cooked pasta, and jar of pasta sauce until well blended.
- Next, layer the pasta mixture in a pan with cheese.Put half of the pasta mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish (make sure to spread it out so it's filling the bottom). Top with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese. Scoop the remaining pasta mixture into the dish to form a second layer.Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.This layering helps ensure lots of cheesy flavor throughout the whole dish!
- Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly.Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Can garnish with fresh parsley if you wish.
I’ve enjoyed this with my kids, my mom, and even as part of a romantic dinner.
By the way – caprese salad makes a great appetizer! Serve basil leaves, tomato slices and mozzarella cheese on their own or with crackers. Mmm…
Check out more recipes on my Recipes page.