Stuffed Italian Sausage with Cheesy Tomato Sauce Recipe
Delicious baked stuffed Italian sausages filled with a creamy blend of mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan cheeses, seasoned with Italian herbs and baked in a rich tomato sauce. This hearty recipe yields five flavorful servings perfect for an easy and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Sausages
- 5 Italian sausage links (19 ounces/538 g total)
Cheese Filling
- 1 1/2 cups (153 g) shredded low-moisture part skim mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup (117 g) ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup (19 g) finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, plus more for sprinkling
Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) tomato sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) to prepare for baking the stuffed sausages.
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella (reserve the remaining 1/2 cup for topping), ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Stir the ingredients together until evenly combined.
- Prepare the sausages: Using a small paring knife, carefully cut a slit lengthwise down the center of each sausage about halfway through its depth, leaving about 1/2 inch intact at both ends. Gently use your fingers to open this slit to create a ‘boat’ shape to hold the cheese filling.
- Stuff the sausages: Fill each sausage cavity with the prepared cheese mixture, pressing it in gently to evenly distribute the filling inside.
- Arrange and add sauce: Place the stuffed sausages into the center of a 9 x 13 inch metal baking pan. Spoon the tomato sauce evenly around the sausages.
- Add cheese and seasoning topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella over the top of the sausages and the sauce. Add a little extra Italian seasoning on top for an additional flavor boost.
- Bake the sausages: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until the sausage internal temperature reaches at least 160 degrees F (71.1 degrees C), approximately 21 to 23 minutes, ensuring they are fully cooked and the cheese is bubbly.
- Rest and serve: Remove the baking pan from the oven and allow the sausages to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute for a moist and flavorful bite.
Notes
- Use high-quality Italian sausage links for the best flavor.
- If you prefer, you can use mild or spicy Italian sausage according to your taste preference.
- Make sure the internal temperature of the sausages reaches 160°F (71.1°C) for safe consumption.
- The recipe can be doubled for a larger crowd using a bigger baking dish.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Serve with crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
Keywords: Stuffed Italian Sausage, baked sausage, Italian sausage recipe, cheese stuffed sausage, Italian dinner, easy sausage recipe