Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Baked Angel Hair Pasta with Italian Sausage and Rosemary Alfredo Sauce


I know there are lots of food snobs out there who think it is shameful to use alfredo sauce from a jar.  I used to feel the same way, but now I have come to conclusion that sometimes there is nothing wrong with taking a few shortcuts.  There is no shame in serving this dish to company and no one will ever know it wasn't made entirely from scratch.  I have actually served this to company quite a few times.  It is perfect for entertaining because it can be made in advance and baked before your guests arrive.


Baked Angel  Hair Pasta with Italian Sausage and Rosemary Alfredo

1.5 lbs Italian Sausage
1/2 lb crimini mushrooms, sliced
3 tbs chopped fresh rosemary
2  15 oz jars alfredo sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 lb angel hair pasta
olive oil
salt & pepper


Remove the sausage from the casing and cut into bite sized pieces.  Then in a large skillet over a medium flame add 2 tbs of olive oil  and brown the sausage.  Then remove the sausage from the pan and set aside.  Add the mushrooms and 2 tbs of rosemary to the pan and saute until the mushrooms are tender.  Then season the mushrooms with 1 tsp of salt and a little freshly cracked black pepper.  Then add both jars  of alfredo sauce and bring to a simmer.  Meanwhile cook the angel hair pasta in salted water.  The pasta needs to be slightly undercooked.  Cook the pasta for one minute less than directed on the package, about 4 minutes.  Then add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until combined.  Then pour the pasta into a oven proof dish.  Top the pasta with the sausage.  Then layer the cheese on top and scatter 1 tbs of chopped rosemary over the top.  Then bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and the cheese is melted.  I also like to put it under the broiler for just a few minutes until the cheese starts to brown. 

So if any food snobs are reading...give this one a try.

You might also be interested in Green Chile Chicken Pasta and Italian Sausage and White Bean Soup.
Posted by at 10:30 PM
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58 comments:

  1. I just had a HUGE dinner, but I could eat this recipe all up...yummy:)
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  2. This sound simple and good, must try one day.
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  3. Mamma Mia! Total deliciousness ^_^.

    I totally second food short cuts, if you look good enough, you can find some really good 'food from a jar' haha! No harm to do that once in a while.

    Have a nice day! Ciao!
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  4. You are not alone. I usually use bottled pesto sauce and sundried tomatoes. Especially in my profession in the medical field, I need a quick fix sometimes.
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  5. I am a big fan of using canned/bottled sauces. You can see me using them time and time again in my recipes too..they are splendid and I am certainly not ashamed of using it.
    Sausages, ground meat are my favorite kind of meat..They are so versatile and you can come up with many yummy dishes..Speaking of yummy, that bowl is certainly it! I love the creamy, cheesy end result. Mouthwatering!
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  6. That's a very lovely meal. I usually fry the angel hair but yours looks very delicious. Would love to try.
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  7. Looks great, I'll be very happy if this is served at dinner party I am invited to.
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  8. Bo, that looks good, but I don't think I can take the richness of alfredo sauce any more... and substituting a red would definitely change up the flavor...right? btw, Albertsons started selling Italian sausage w/out the casing.. yep, tried it out and its great...no more struggling w/that casing...The brand escapes me and the butcher says its a new item...but I am sure it will hit your stores soon.
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  9. Oh, now I'm drooling! This sounds delicious and I will be trying it! It's easy and will be a great thing for dinner! Thanks!
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  10. Holy Mother of Pearl! That looks awesome! It will be made at my house--SOON!
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  11. Bo, I like that same Alfredo sauce, and I agree with Mehl, a jar of pesto often comes in handy for those last minute meals that taste great too. This dish looks awesome, I can't wait to try it.
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  12. I love Italian sausages in pasta. I am going to save this recipe!
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  13. This looks fantastic Bo! I love everything you put in here, especially the sausage!
    This recipe is a definate keep for when company comes!
    Cheers~
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  14. There is NOTHING wrong with sauce from a jar. I saw Giada DeLaurentis using one on her show. She just added some fresh basil to it.
    This looks delicious. I will try it for sure
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  15. This looks delicious! I would definitely try this at home. Thanks for the recipe...
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  16. Wow! That sounds and looks fantastic!!!!I am printing this one.....I can't wait to try it!
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  17. Yum! I love any kind of pasta dish.
    It is hard to make Alfredo homemade, and sometimes it tastes better from the jar anyhow.
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  18. Wow, what a nice pasta dish...very tasty!
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  19. lol i like it when u call them FOOD SNOBSSSS lol.

    I take short cuts all the time and i dont care hey lol. makes my life easier

    love what you done with the sauce and the sausages! i would love to eat your food one day
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  20. Now, this is a dinner for me & my husband , great for entertaining tot, Bo!

    Fab presentation too!
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  21. You had me at Baked Pasta! Looks wonderful. And no, there is nothing wrong with taking a few shortcuts and adding your own special touch to them. Thanks for letting us all off the hook. :D
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  22. Bo, I made this last night and it was great. Rosemary is one herb I can grow! I had turkey sausage on hand so I used that. My daughter liked it too, but she picked out the sausage. Thanks for the recipe! Can't go wrong with baked pasta with cheese! I had just enough (I cut the recipe in half, small family) left for my lunch today!
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  23. Sounds so delicious as well as easy to prepare.thanks for sharing!
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  24. Steven,
    You should serve this at one of those dinner parties you are having all the time.

    Sonia,
    Thanks!

    TJ,
    Thanks! There are really lots of great quick foods out there...you just have to do a little searching.

    Mhel,
    I'm with you...a jar of pesto and sun dried tomatoes are great to have on hand for quick dinners.

    Cool Lassi(e),
    Thanks!

    MaryMoh,
    Thanks!

    3 hungry tummies,
    Come visit...I will make this for you.

    Chrissy,
    Red Sauce will work, and still taste delicious...but totally different. I have never cooked Italian sausage in its casing...so that is great you can get it without...until I can I'll just keep fooling with those casings.

    Pam,
    Thanks! Try it.

    Bunny,
    I look forward to hearing how you like it.

    Lyndsey,
    Hey I'm glad you all liked it. Rosemary is usually the only herb I have any luck growing too...but that didn't stop me from buying a whole bunch of plants last weekend...since the sausage got picked off maybe next time you could make it with chopped grilled chicken or ham.

    Sook,
    This is a good one to try.

    Catherine,
    Thanks!

    Bob,
    I'm glad your not a food snob.

    Coffee Machine,
    Thanks!

    Erica,
    Let me know how it turns out when you make it.

    Robin,
    yeah Alfredo is easy to screw up.

    Ann,
    There are so many dishes that you have cooked that I would love to try too.

    Sophie,
    You should try it.

    Carla,
    I agree...without shortcuts this dish would take twice as long to make.

    Shahana,
    Thanks!
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  25. Looks awesome, Bo. Of course, I love anything pasta. :)
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  26. I totally use pasta sauce out of a jar! Sometimes it's fun to mix them too--my favorite is a cream tomato sauce :) Your pasta looks delicious!
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  27. this looks great, and now worries about the jarred sauce. Sometimes you just have to do it!
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  28. Wow..this sure looks like a party dish.I am on your side, there's nothing wrong with shortcuts,esp if you are serving fantastic dishes like this :D
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  29. That looks so delicious! I love sausage and mushrooms! This is on my list for dinner this weekends! Thanks for the great idea!
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  30. A La Ghraham,
    Me too!

    James,
    I'll try the tomato cream sauce...Thanks!

    Banu,
    Thanks!

    Gulmohar,
    Thanks! I'm all for shortcuts too!

    Cathy,
    I hope you try it!
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  31. I agree and use jarred sauces sometimes too! I love the sausage and mushroom combo - yum.
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  32. I am all about short cuts, and no quams, since that is my favorite alfredo sauce, and after moving to NJ- I adore Italians, and there sausage...seriously!
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  33. I raise my glass to food preparation food short cuts. Food is not intended be complicated and this is a wonderful example.
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  34. Looks fantastic! Always on lookout for fast but delicious dishes. Agree nothing wrong with shortcuts.
    New to your blog but will certainly return.
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  36. This looks and sounds delish! I will try it!!
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  37. Hi, Bo! I'm new to Bo's Bowl but I love your recipes. I've added your groovy mouthwatering blog as a link on my blog, Deep Dish (which isn't about food):
    http://www.chicagonow.com/deepdish.

    Have a great week!
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  38. hey! it's soooo beautiful that I CAN feel its taste!!yay!!
    traditionally we use angel pasta to stock soup;] and your dish?what an adaptation- what a difference:)
    take care and keep cooking!
    Just
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  39. Wonderful meal!
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  40. Im a huge Prego fan myself...so canned / jar...works in a pinch! And this dish? YUM!!!
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  41. Bo
    That dish looks so wonderful and comforting !
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  42. Now I'm drooling! This all looks delicious! Love that pasta and Italian sausage! Thanks for the recipe!
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  43. Beautiful meal! Love the mix of flavors in this one.
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  44. Bo! It's not hard to make alfredo sauce (or at least a white sauce) and store it! :P Shortcuts are for sissys. Kidding. This sounds amazing and I will definitely be making this soon because it's easy! (And probably yummy!!!) I'm assuming this would be just as delicious with any kind of pasta, eh?
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  45. Kerstin,
    Nothing wrong with a few shortcuts.

    Chef E,
    I love Italian sausage too...one of my all time favorite foods!

    Garv,
    Thanks!

    Velva,
    Thanks!

    Frank,
    I see you made it!

    Ashley,
    Let me know how you like it!

    Deep Dish,
    Thanks, I appreciate that!

    Dotblog,
    Thanks!

    Margaret,
    Thanks Mom!

    Danielle,
    Thank you!

    Taste of Beirut,
    Thanks!

    Sinful Southern Sweets,
    Thanks!

    Jovan,
    I thought you moved to Singapore...Actually I've tried it with many shapes of pasta...angel hair works best...tube shaped pastas don't work well at all.
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  47. Sam,
    lol....How about I just have you over for dinner instead.
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  48. btw, i made this recipe w/the alfredo sauce.. the gal at trader joe's told me to add 1/2 and 1/2 to the sauce to lighten up the richness ... it also cut down the amt. of sauce that I used and it worked... the rosemary sure adds to the taste..
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  49. Chrissy,
    I'm glad you made it...It is really rich so I will try that with the half and half sometime.
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  50. I think this looks delicious! I use canned sauce all the time, nothing wrong with that! It's harder to lighten the recipe though with canned but sometimes that can't be helped! Great blog with some great recipes! I'll come back and check out some more, thanks!
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  51. Debbi,
    Thanks!...Some meals are worth the splurge in fat and calories...this is one of them...but you could replace the sausage with turkey sausage...or even grilled chicken.
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  52. A delicious meal made easy is nothing to turn your nose up at! This looks wonderful and I know where to find some delicious Italian sausages :)
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  53. Hello Bo!!

    What a beautiful well flavoured combined meal!

    Lovely & well balanced flavours in here!
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  54. Savoring time in the kitchen,
    Well If you have some good Italian sausage then this is the perfect recipe to make.

    Sophie,
    Thanks!
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  55. Wow Bo....this looks amazing and your pictures are fantastic! I have given you a blog award, and I hope you'll stop by Mimi's Kitchen and pick it up...you deserve it!
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  56. I love recipes that have shortcuts! You save time without losing any of the flavor.
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  57. This looks awesome! How did I miss this one? I love Italian sausage. I don't normally use jarred sauce, but I will definitely make an exception for this one!
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  58. mama miyaaa......that was so delicious recipe !! Mouth watering dish !! I would like to have a bite right now !! :D lol....hahahaha......
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