In large pasta pot, cook the noodles two minutes less than instructed for al dente pasta. They will cook more in the oven.
Pour off 1/4 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta, and pour into large mixing bowl.
Toss the pasta with the olive oil so it doesn't stick together and set aside.
Brown sausage in saute pan and drain on paper towels.
Dice the onion and add to the saute pan where you browned the sausage, and cook over medium low heat until almost transparent.
Add the cream cheese to the onion and stir until about halfway melted.
Add Italian spices, red pepper flakes and milk to the onion and cheese mixture, and stir until the cheese is mostly melted.
Pour the onion cheese mixture, sausage and drained, diced tomatoes over the pasta.
Toss these items together.
Sprinkle 3/4 cup of the shredded cheese over the pasta mixture and stir in. The cheese does not have to melt.
Pour the pasta into a casserole dish sprayed with Pam cooking spray.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the casserole.
Sprinkle the panko bread crumbs across the top of the casserole.
Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes until the sauce bubbles and the top is toasty golden.
Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes before serving.
