Three-Cheese Summer Sausage Bowtie Skillet Bake (Print Version)

A cozy skillet pasta bake with bowtie pasta, browned sausage, summer vegetables, marinara, and three melty cheeses.

# Ingredients:

For the pasta and sausage

01 - 10 oz (285 g) bowtie pasta or farfalle
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 12 oz (340 g) cooked chicken sausage or smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch coins

For the vegetables and sauce

04 - 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 3 packed cups (85 g) baby spinach
08 - 1 jar (24 oz or 680 g) marinara sauce
09 - 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
10 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for serving

For the three-cheese topping

13 - 2 cups (225 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella, divided
14 - 1 cup (115 g) shredded provolone, divided
15 - 1/2 cup (45 g) grated Parmesan cheese

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
02 - Cook the bowtie pasta until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain well and set aside without rinsing.
03 - Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage slices and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning once, until browned at the edges. Transfer to a bowl.
04 - Add the zucchini and bell pepper to the same skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds, then add spinach and cook just until wilted.
05 - Lower the heat. Stir in the marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, basil, cooked pasta, sausage, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup provolone until evenly coated.
06 - Spread the mixture evenly in the skillet. Top with the remaining mozzarella, remaining provolone, and Parmesan.
07 - Bake uncovered for 18-20 minutes, until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the cheese is melted and golden. Rest for 5-10 minutes, then finish with more basil.

# Notes:

01 - Best served after a short rest so the sauce can settle.
02 - Use a 12-inch ovenproof skillet or a similar 3-quart baking dish.
03 - Nutrition is an estimate per serving.

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