A delicious pasta bake made from squished out Italian sausage cooked in a flavoursome, creamy tomato sauce with pasta shells. Then topped with cheese and baked until golden.
This creamy Italian Sausage Pasta Bake was part of my $20 dinner series and it's packed with flavour while still being super affordable. It's perfect for feeding a crowd and makes six generous servings. The flavour comes from the Italian sausages which are filled with herbs and spices. Meanwhile the sauce's lovely, silky texture comes from the cream cheese. For other amazing pasta bakes, be sure to check out our Bacon and Veggie Pasta Bake or our Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake.
Ingredient notes:
- Sausages: This recipe was created using Italian style pork sausages. These sausages pack a punch in the flavour department as they are filled with delicious herbs and spices.
- Pasta: I love using these larges shells because they're perfect for holding the flavoursome sauce.
- Cream cheese: The cream cheese makes the sauce silky and rich. It can be swapped out for pouring cream, Greek yoghurt or sour cream but flavours will vary.
*The prices in this image were accurate as of 7 April 2026, based on shopping at Woolworths Taupō. Prices may vary depending on location, time of year, and seasonal availability of produce.
Step by step instructions:
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to packet instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion.
Slice down the middle of each sausage and remove the meat from the casings. Discard the casings and add the sausage meat to the pan with the onion. Cook for 10 minutes, breaking up the sausage meat as it browns.
Add the crushed garlic and dried Italian herbs, then stir to combine. Pour in the crushed tomatoes.
Dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water, then add to the pan along with the cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the cooked pasta shells and stir to combine. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan grill. Sprinkle grated cheese over the pasta then place under the grill for 5 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Serve with a side salad or seasonal greens.
Recipe FAQs:
Always slightly undercook pasta for bakes like this. Once you place the dish in the oven the pasta will continue to cook.
Of course. Swap the pasta shells for penne, spirals, macaroni or even spaghetti.
Absolutely. The benefit of using Italian style sausages is that they have a lot of flavour in them. But if you want to use plain pork or beef sausages, just add some dried Italian herbs to the pan.
Storage:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Defrost and reheat until piping hot.
Top tips:
- Swap the pasta shells for penne, spirals, macaroni or even spaghetti.
- Cook pasta slightly under the recommended time so it doesn't overcook once added to the sauce.
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Italian Sausage Pasta Bake
A delicious pasta bake made from squished out Italian sausage cooked in a flavoursome, creamy tomato sauce with pasta shells.
Ingredients
- 500g pasta shells
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 450 g Italian style pork sausages
- 2 tsp crushed garlic
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1 x 400g can crushed tomatoes
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 250ml boiling water
- 150g cream cheese
- 100g grated cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to packet instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion.
- Slice down the middle of each sausage and remove the meat from the casings. Discard the casings and add the sausage meat to the pan with the onion. Cook for 10 minutes, breaking up the sausage meat as it browns.
- Add the crushed garlic and dried Italian herbs, then stir to combine. Pour in the crushed tomatoes.
- Dissolve the stock cube in the boiling water, then add to the pan along with the cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the cooked pasta shells and stir to combine.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C fan grill. Sprinkle grated cheese over the pasta then place under the grill for 5 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Serve with a side salad or seasonal greens.
Notes
- Swap the pasta shells for penne, spirals, macaroni or even spaghetti.
- Cook pasta slightly under the recommended time so it doesn’t overcook once added to the sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 553Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 15gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 956mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 25g
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.
Thank you for checking out this recipe. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you have any questions, queries or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Vanya
Diana Bridgeman says
This was delicious and so easy to make.
Thank you, my 18 year old grandson hoovered it down
VJ cooks says
Oh I'm so happy to hear it was a success. Thanks for your feedback, Diana 🙂
Annie says
I made this recipe over the weekend. It was delicious. I made some substitutions in adding rissoni pasta and cooking it out and added cottage cheese instead of cream cheese. Really nice recipe, thank you
VJ cooks says
Yum! Great work 🙂
Fiona says
Considering the humble ingredients this was surprisingly delicious! Teen approved, and quick to make so everyone is happy. I used pork sausages and sour cream. Yummy!
VJ cooks says
This is the feedback I love so much! Thanks for taking the time to write in, Fiona. So pleased to hear you and your family enjoyed this recipe 🙂