This Easy Stuffed Italian Sausage Casserole is a comforting family dinner that is delicious and simple to prepare! Combining juicy Italian sausages stuffed with gooey mozzarella, sautéed onions, and a rich marinara sauce, this dish delivers all the classic Italian flavors in a single baking dish.
Need a pairing suggestion? Try our Quick and Healthy Arugula and Tomato Salad and Crispy Garlic Parmesan Green Beans.
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Stuffed Italian Sausage Casserole is a flavorful dish that brings together Italian sausages, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese in one irresistible bite. With its Italian-American roots, this casserole is not only packed with flavor, it is perfect for feeding a crowd.
If you like this Italian recipe, you may also love our Chicken Parmesan Casserole or our Baked Ziti with Sausage.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and a quick prep time, this casserole is beginner-friendly.
- Family-Friendly: The combination of cheese, sausages, and marinara sauce is a hit with both kids and adults.
- Great for Entertaining: It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to serve when guests are over.
- Customizable: You can easily swap ingredients to suit your dietary preferences or what you have on hand.
Ingredients
- Italian Sausages: Choose mild or spicy, depending on your taste preference. If you’re feeling adventurous, a mix of both can give your casserole more depth.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded mozzarella melts well, but using mozzarella sticks inside the sausages makes it easy!
- Marinara Sauce: A store-bought sauce will work great in this dish, but homemade marinara brings fresh flavor. Use your favorite!
- Onion: Sliced onions get sautéed and bring a slight sweetness to balance out the richness of the sausages and cheese.
- Italian Seasoning: A classic blend of herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, which adds to the Italian flavors of the dish.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, nutty layer of flavor when sprinkled on top.
- Red or White Wine: Used to deglaze the pan. Don’t worry, the alcohol cooks off, leaving behind just the flavor.
- Fresh Basil: This is optional, but a garnish of fresh basil leaves right before serving brightens up the dish and adds flavor.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Sausages: Substitute chicken sausage or turkey sausage if you prefer a lighter option.
- Mozzarella: Use string cheese sticks.
- Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausages for more heat.
- Kid-Friendly: Use mild sausage and serve with pasta to appeal to younger palates.
How to Make Easy Stuffed Italian Sausage Casserole
STEP ONE: Prepare the Sausages
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the sausages on all sides until they are nicely browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set them aside to cool slightly.
STEP TWO: Deglaze and Sauté
After removing the sausages, pour wine into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up the bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the sliced onions and sauté them in the wine reduction for about 3-4 minutes until soft. Add Italian seasoning and stir well.
STEP THREE: Stuff the Sausages
Once the sausages are cool enough to handle, cut a slit lengthwise into each sausage and stuff with mozzarella cheese. Lay a bed of the sautéed onions with the wine reduction in a casserole dish, then place the stuffed sausages on top.
STEP FOUR: Bake and Finish
Pour marinara sauce over the sausages, making sure they are covered. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
Remove the foil, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the sausages are fully cooked. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
❌ DO NOT Overcrowd the pan when searing the sausages; it helps them brown evenly.
✔️ DO loosely tent the dish with foil during baking.
Storage
Store leftover stuffed sausage in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, stuffed Italian sausage casserole can be made ahead of time. You can assemble the entire dish, including stuffing the sausages, layering the onions and marinara sauce, and placing everything in the casserole dish. Cover it tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to cook, simply bake it as directed in the recipe.
Stuffed Italian sausage casserole is great to pair with lighter sides. A simple green salad with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette helps cut through the richness of the sausages and cheese. Garlic bread or a rustic loaf of bread is perfect for soaking up the marinara sauce. If you're looking for a vegetable side, roasted asparagus or zucchini would complement the dish well.
Yes, stuffed Italian sausage casserole can be frozen for up to three months. To freeze, assemble the casserole without baking it. Cover it tightly with foil and freeze. When you're ready to cook, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, bake it as directed, keeping an eye on the internal temperature of the sausages to ensure they’re fully cooked.
Related
- Easy Italian Fried Cheese Recipe
- Easy Instant Pot Italian Soup with Ground Beef and Italian Sausage
- Italian Sausage and Peppers Skillet with White Wine
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📖 Recipe
Easy Stuffed Italian Sausage Casserole
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Foil
- Wooden spoon
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 8 Italian sausages mild or spicy, depending on preference
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded or cut into sticks for stuffing
- 3 cups marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup dry red or white wine for deglazing
- fresh basil for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the sausages on all sides until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove the sausages from the skillet and let them cool slightly before cutting.
- After removing the sausages, immediately pour the wine into the skillet to deglaze the pan. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits (fond) from the bottom of the skillet. Let the wine simmer for 1-2 minutes until it reduces slightly.
- Once the wine has reduced, add the sliced onions to the skillet and sauté them in the wine reduction for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the Italian seasoning and stir to combine.
- Make a lengthwise slit in each sausage, being careful not to cut all the way through. Stuff each sausage with 1 ounce of mozzarella cheese.
- In a casserole dish, spread a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom, followed by the sautéed onions with the wine reduction. Place the stuffed sausages on top of the onions. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the sausages.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, uncover, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the sausages are fully cooked.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and garnish with fresh basil if desired. Let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
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Notes
- Sausages: Substitute chicken sausage or turkey sausage if you prefer a lighter option.
- Mozzarella: Use string cheese sticks.
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