Sausage and kale pasta bake is a rich, satisfying dish that combines the savory flavors of Italian sausage with the earthy, nutrient-packed goodness of kale, all enveloped in a creamy, cheesy sauce. This comforting casserole is perfect for a cozy dinner or to feed a crowd, offering a balance of hearty meat, wholesome greens, and pasta, all baked together until golden and bubbling. It’s a dish that feels both indulgent and wholesome at the same time.
The base of this pasta bake starts with cooked pasta – penne, rigatoni, or any pasta of your choice – which holds up well to the creamy sauce and hearty ingredients. The sausage is cooked until browned, releasing its rich, savory flavor, and mixed with sautéed garlic and onions to build a flavorful foundation. The kale is added next, wilting down into the mix, adding a slight bitterness that complements the richness of the sausage. You can use either fresh or frozen kale, but fresh is ideal for its texture and color.
For the sauce, a creamy combination of ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan creates a velvety, cheesy base that ties everything together. A little tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes can be added for a touch of acidity to balance the richness of the sausage and cheese. Once the pasta, sausage, kale, and sauce are mixed together, it’s all baked in the oven until the top is golden and crispy, creating a beautiful contrast of textures.
Sausage and kale pasta bake is incredibly versatile, and you can customize it by adding other vegetables, like bell peppers or mushrooms, or switching up the type of sausage. It’s also great for meal prepping and can be easily stored and reheated for later. Whether you’re serving it for a family dinner or bringing it to a potluck, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your recipe rotation – hearty, flavorful, and satisfying with every bite.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta penne or similar
- 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 bunch kale stems removed, chopped
- 1 cup marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned.
- Add the kale to the skillet and cook until wilted.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the sauce mixture, then transfer to a baking dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly and golden, about 15-20 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy your sausage and kale pasta bake.
This was a huge hit at my family dinner! So easy to make and delicious. Will definitely make again!
Ehh, it was okay. I think I cooked the pasta wrong, it turned into mush. Thumbs down.
Yum! So good, I could eat this every day! Cheese and sausage make anything better.
I agree! Cheese and sausage make everything taste better! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
This was amazing! My family loved it and it’s so easy to make. Definitely making it again!
Why use kale?? It’s just a terrible green. I replaced it with broccoli and it was decent.
I dunno about the kale, but the sausage was good. Might try spinach next time.
I don’t know why people like kale. Spinach is way better!🤷♂️
Kale’s great for ya! But yeah, spinach could work too. Do what makes ya happy! 😊
I added a bit of garlic and some chili flakes. It turned out spicy and delicious! Definitely a keeper.
Pretty good, but I think 1 cup marinara felt a little low for the amount of pasta. Next time I’ll add more sauce so it’s not as dry. Still, the sausage + kale combo is solid.
Followed the recipe but added some chili flakes for kick. Was spicy!🔥
Very basic stuff. Just pasta and sauce. Yawn. Nothing special.
Yum! This pasta bake was sooo cheesy! 😋
Omg, made this for dinner last night and my kids LOVED it! They usually hate veggies.
That’s awesome! Kids eating veggies is a win! Gonna try this for sure.
Honestly I didn’t love it. The kale tasted a bit bitter to me even after cooking it. Maybe I should’ve massaged it first or used younger kale? Also my sauce was kinda bland.
Made this last night—so cozy. The kale actually held up nicely and the cheese got perfectly golden. I used spicy sausage and it kicked the whole thing up a notch. Will repeat.
Tastes super bland, I had to add garlic and some spices to make it flavorful. Not impressed.
I don’t really like kale. Can I use spinach instead? Also the cook time seems weird, my pasta got too mushy.
I don’t like kale, should I just skip it? I feel like it might ruin the taste. 🤔
Pretty good for a weeknight dinner! I used gluten-free pasta and it turned out nice!
I don’t know, the kale was kinda weird in this. Maybe try spinach next time?
Gonna have to try this! Looks delish!
I dunno, kale with pasta? Seems weird. But maybe it’s good??
This looks amazing! I love kale and pasta. Gonna make it this weekend!
Sausage = bad. Cheese = good. Kale = confused. But somehow this worked? 🤷♂️
Haha, I get it! Kale always seems confused. But this sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it! 🥳
Is there even enough meat? I would add more sausage next time.
Not bad at all! I’m not usually a kale person, but this kinda hides the taste under the marinara and cheese. My kids ate it too (shocked lol).
Haha love that! Kale really does get more tolerable once it’s cooked down and buried under marinara + cheese 😄 Kids surprised is the best kind of proof.
Easiest recipe ever! I brought it to a potluck, and it was a hit! Thanks for sharing!
Yum!! My mom used to make something like this. Better than any restaurant! 😍
Sausage and kale together? Sounds weird 🤮. I’d rather stick to just spaghetti with sauce.
This was AMAZING! The flavors were just perfect together. Definitely a keeper!
I dunno, but kale and pasta just sounds weird. I didn’t enjoy it much, the kale was too chewy for my taste.
Why is it called a bake if we just throw it in the oven at the end? Seems misleading.
Cooking this right now! The smell is heavenly! Can’t wait to share it with my family.
I dunno, I didn’t think it was that great… the kale was too chewy for me. Not my fav.
Delicious! 👍 Who knew kale could taste so good like this? Will make again!
Can’t go wrong with cheese and pasta! This recipe is a win for sure. Would add more sauce next time tho.
Absolutely! Cheese makes everything better! I think I’ll definitely try adding extra sauce too. Yum!
Not sure if that’s a great idea. More sauce can make it soggy. Just saying. But to each their own.
Way too salty for me. Could be the sausage + parmesan combo. I’ll use less parm next time or choose a lower-sodium sausage.
I followed it exactly but my pasta came out kinda firm. Maybe I undercooked it? Also the kale tasted a little bitter until I simmered the sauce longer.
Sounds like you nailed most of it! If the pasta was a bit firm, it’s probably just slightly undercooked when you boiled it—next time cook it 1–2 minutes less than the package says (since it bakes), or even fully cook it and let it sit with the sauce a minute or two. And yup, kale can get less bitter if it simmers longer—good call extending the sauce!
I substituted spinach for the kale and used some chicken sausage. Still came out pretty good!
But why sausage? Can’t you use chicken or something? Sounds good, but I’m not a fan of pork.
You can definitely use chicken! Just make sure to season it well. The recipe sounds delicious though! 😋
This was AMAZING! The sausage and kale work so well together. My whole family loved it!
Good concept, but I think 1 pound sausage might be a bit much for only 1 cup marinara. Next time I’ll add extra sauce (or more pasta) so it’s not too rich/dry.
Simple and tasty! My kids gobbled it up. I used turkey sausage and it turned out great!
Easy to make, but my kids wouldn’t eat it. They said it was ‘green spaghetti.’ Overall, not bad but not a hit for us.
Five stars for the idea, but I added extra marinara and it turned out more like lasagna vibes? Either way it was delicious. 😅
Love that you leaned into the marinara! Pasta bakes can totally turn into lasagna vibes if there’s more sauce—either way, that’s a win. 😄
This was amazing! The kale added such a nice twist to the usual pasta bake. Will definitely make again!
Love it! Simple and tasty! Perfect for weeknight dinners. 👌
Totally agree! This dish is a lifesaver on busy nights. 🥳
Not sure about the oven time—mine needed closer to 30 minutes for that golden top. Also I got lazy and chopped kale too big, but it was still tasty.
Kale + sausage + cheese is a winning combo. I appreciate that it doesn’t require any weird ingredients. I added red pepper flakes and it was perfect for a weeknight.
This was AMAZING. Like restaurant vibes. My boyfriend asked me to make it again and we never agree on food lol.
This recipe is soooo good! I can’t believe how easy it was to make. My family devoured it! 5 stars!
Turned out great but I added some extra spices. Didn’t have parmesan, used cheddar instead. Still yummy!
Super easy, and the whole house smelled great. I did add extra mozzarella tho. 10/10 would make again!
I used spicy sausage and it improved everything. The bake time was spot on—cheese came out golden without drying the pasta.
Not sure about the ratio. I love kale, but the flavor felt kinda muted for me. Next time I’d season the sausage more, like with garlic powder or fennel.
Totally get that—kale can get a bit mellow once it bakes, especially if the sausage isn’t super well-seasoned. I’ve had better results adding garlic powder (or even a pinch of red pepper flakes) to the sausage while it browns. Also, squeezing in a tiny splash of lemon or a bit more salt to the sauce at the simmer helps the flavors pop.
What’s the point of putting kale in pasta? Just use more sausage, that sounds better to me.
Kale adds nutrients! You can’t just eat sausage all the time. Balance is key!
Too much cheese for my taste. I just wanted to try it but I had to scrape some off. But my partner loved it!
I tried it but my kale didn’t wilt as fast as expected. Maybe my skillet was too crowded? Taste was still good, just not the texture I wanted.
Made this tonight and it was seriously comforting. The kale stayed nice and tender, and the cheese got that perfect bubbly top. Will definitely make again!
Really simple directions, and it turned out tasty! I didn’t have parmesan so I used a pecorino blend—still worked. Only thing: my bake took closer to 25 minutes to get properly bubbly.
Made this tonight and it turned out sooo comforting. The kale went perfectly tender and the cheese top was nice and bubbly. I used homemade marinara and it really upped the flavor.
Really good flavor, though I ended up adding a pinch of red pepper flakes because my household likes a little kick. Still easy and filling.
Glad you liked it! A pinch of red pepper flakes totally makes sense—this one’s pretty forgiving and the bake still comes out comforting.
I burned the top slightly even though I only baked 15 minutes—maybe my oven runs hot. Still, the middle was great. Would retry with foil cover.
Yeah, ovens can run hot—15 minutes is when it *starts* getting golden for some setups. Foil cover is a great fix; I’d also check at 12–13 minutes next time. Glad the middle turned out though!