This delicious turkey Kielbasa pasta bake recipe is a one-pan dish that is ready in under 40 minutes. It's packed with flavor from the smokey sausage and rich sauce and is a comforting dish that the whole family will love!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This easy turkey Kielbasa pasta bake recipe is a dream come true for busy weeknights. In just 40 minutes, you have a one-pan dish that has plenty of flavor and enough to feed a large family!
The key ingredients are simple yet flavorful - and the cooking instructions are easy to follow.
Baked pasta recipes, like cheeseburger mac and cheese, chicken tetrazzini casserole, Texas chicken spaghetti casserole, and this delicious turkey Kielbasa pasta bake, are great options for busy weeknights.
The star of this dish is the turkey kielbasa, which adds a delicious smokey flavor to the pasta. The creamy, velvety sauce is made with a thick roux base and seasoned with herbs and spices - it is then mixed together with the sausage and tender pasta, topped with mozzarella cheese, and baked in the oven until golden brown.
It's pure comfort food the whole family can enjoy! Plus, it's a budget-friendly recipe that can be easily customized with other ingredients that you have in your pantry. No matter what you're in the mood for this evening, this turkey Kielbasa pasta bake will hit the spot.
🍽 Key Ingredients
The star of this pasta bake is the meaty turkey Kielbasa sausage, which combines with basic pantry ingredients to make a flavorful and irresistible dish that is sure to please.
Turkey Kielbasa - This type of polish sausage gives any dish a delicious smokey flavor and hearty meat sauce. You can find Kielbasa from most types of meat, but we prefer the turkey variety for this recipe.
Aromatics - Onion and garlic help bring out the deep flavors in this dish.
Seasonings - Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper add depth of flavor and give the pasta bake a delicious aroma.
Creamy roux - A roux is a mixture of fat and flour used to thicken sauces. We use butter and all-purpose flour for this smooth, velvety sauce.
Liquid - Whole milk and low sodium vegetable broth give the sauce a rich, creamy quality.
Pasta - Use dry rigatoni for this recipe. It's a larger size of pasta with ridges that hold sauces well.
Cheese - A generous amount of mozzarella cheese adds a delicious cheesy flavor and helps the pasta bake hold together.
Garnish - Garnish with fresh basil or parsley to give the dish an extra pop of flavor and color.
Substitutions
Sausage
If you can't get your hands on the delicious turkey Kielbasa, you can use other varieties, such as Italian sausage, Spanish chorizo, or even cooked lean ground beef.
Pasta
Rigatoni is the best pasta to use for this recipe, as it holds sauces well and has a nice chewy texture. But if you don't have rigatoni, any other long-cut pasta will do, like penne pasta, linguine, or fettuccine.
Cheese
Mozzarella is the best cheese for this recipe, as it melts nicely. However, you can also use sharp cheddar for a sharper flavor, gruyere for a nuttier taste, or parmesan cheese for a saltier flavor.
Milk
To add a richer texture to the sauce, you can use half and half or use 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream for a creamier texture.
🔪 How to make
Making a delicious turkey kielbasa pasta bake is so easy to make, you just have to cook some sausage, boil rigatoni, mix in a few ingredients, top it with cheese, and bake until golden brown. Follow the steps below and you will satisfy everyone at the table.
Preparations
- Chop the turkey Kielbasa sausage in half and slice it into half-moon pieces.
- Finely dice the onion and garlic.
- Chop the fresh parsley for garnish.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or melted butter.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the chopped onions and garlic, cooking for a few minutes until soft and translucent.
Tip: Mix in the seasonings and cook for a further minute.
Step 2
Stir in the flour and whisk constantly until no white streaks remain.
Step 3
Reduce the heat to medium and gradually pour in the milk and broth while whisking until it becomes thick (around 5-8 minutes).
Step 4
Prepare a pan of boiling water with a spoon of salt and cook the pasta for 8 minutes until al dente. Check package instructions for directions.
Tip: Drain the pasta and run it under cold water to prevent it from cooking further.
Step 5
Pour the cooked pasta, creamy sauce, and sliced sausage into the baking dish and combine well.
Step 6
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.
Step 7
Remove from the oven, garnish with the chopped parsley, and serve.
💭 Cooking tips
Thickened sauce
If the sauce is too thick, whisk in an extra ¼ cup of milk or broth to thin it out.
Making ahead instructions
If you’d like to make this dish ahead of time, cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking.
📖 Recipe Variations
Most baked pasta dishes are very versatile with their ingredients, and just like this turkey Kielbasa pasta bake it can be adapted to suit your tastes. Here are some ideas:
Spicy Kielbasa pasta bake
If you're looking for a spicier flavor, add half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 chopped jalapeno to the sauce.
Kielbasa and mushroom pasta bake
Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms to the onions and garlic mix and cook until the liquid from the mushrooms evaporates.
Tomato pasta bake
For a more tomato-based sauce, substitute the milk for your favorite tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce and add 1 can of diced tomatoes (drained) to the sauce. Crumble some creamy ricotta cheese on top of the mozzarella cheese.
🥗 What to serve with
This sausage pasta bake recipe is delicious on its own, but if you'd like to make it a complete meal, here are some tasty side dishes to serve with it.
Salad
A simple green salad, broccoli salad, or a fresh tomato basil mozzarella salad is great for pairing with pasta bakes.
Vegetables
Roasted or sautéed vegetables like this Southern-fried cabbage with bacon recipe would make the perfect side dish to pair with this creamy pasta bake. Or try these stuffed portobello mushrooms with cheese and spices for a delicious mushroom side dish.
Fries
For a more traditional side dish, try these easy roasted potatoes, or for a healthier variant, go for crispy avocado fries.
There are many side dish recipes you can choose from to serve with baked pasta recipes, so choose what's best for you and your family.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I make pasta bake recipes with uncooked pasta?
You can, but it is better and faster to make baked pasta dishes with precooked pasta. Using uncooked pasta will take much longer to cook until soft and will soak up every bit of moisture in the dish, resulting in a dryer recipe.
Should I precook the Kielbasa sausage?
No, you don't need to. Sliced Kielbasa sausage can be added to the pasta bake directly from the package and will cook completely through in the oven.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
If you have any leftover pasta bake, you can store and reheat them to enjoy another day.
Refrigerating - Place the leftover contents into an airtight container and pop the container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing - The best way to freeze this pasta bake is to cool it completely before transferring it into an airtight container. This way, you'll be able to store the dish for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheating - To reheat, transfer the contents onto a baking dish and bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes until hot. You can also reheat leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
🍳 Related recipes
From cheesy baked ziti to a classic lasagna recipe, there's something for everyone.
👪 Serving size
This turkey Kielbasa pasta bake recipe makes 4-6 main-dish servings. If you're the kind of person who does meal prep for the week, double the recipe to make two pasta dishes and freeze one with aluminum foil for baking another day.
Pasta bake recipes are an excellent way to enjoy a comforting meal with minimal effort. With only a few ingredients and some simple steps, you can create a delicious and flavorful dish that the whole family will love. Enjoy!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Turkey Kielbasa Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Salted butter
- 1 small Onion
- 1 teaspoon Garlic - minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
- ¼ cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cups Whole milk - you can use half and half for a richer flavor
- 1 cup Low sodium vegetable broth
- 3 cups Rigatoni pasta - 275 grams -dry
- 2 cups Turkey kielbasa - 280 grams - halved and sliced
- 1½ cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parsley - for garnish, chopped
Instructions
Preparations
- Chop the turkey Kielbasa sausage in half and slice it into half-moon pieces.
- Finely dice the onion and garlic.
- Chop the fresh parsley for garnish.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or melted butter.
Cooking instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the chopped onions and garlic, cooking for a few minutes until soft and translucent.
- Mix in the seasonings and cook for a further minute.
- Stir in the flour and whisk constantly until no white streaks remain.
- Reduce the heat to medium and gradually pour in the milk and broth while whisking until it becomes thick (around 5-8 minutes).
- Prepare a pan of boiling water with a spoon of salt and cook the pasta for 8 minutes until al dente. Check package instructions for directions.
- Drain the pasta and run it under cold water to prevent it from cooking further.
- Pour the cooked pasta, creamy sauce, and sliced sausage into the baking dish and combine well.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with the chopped parsley, and serve.
Brandi Norton
I added broccoli because I didn't have quite enough pasta. Even my picky 5 year old ate it!! It was delicious and a nice change from chicken!
Diana
This is a tasty dish. Very easy to make and my family enjoyed. I used Penne pasta.