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This is a super easy casserole the whole family can enjoy with mostaccioli pasta (penne lisce) and meat sauce, all covered in a blanket of delicious Italian cheeses and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces mostaccioli pasta
- 1 lb bulk Italian sausage
- 1 large green pepper seeded veined and chopped
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4-5 cups marinara sauce or tomato sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the mostaccioli noodles al dente according to package instructions and drain well.
- Brown sausage in a skillet on medium heat. Remove sausage to plate; cover and keep warm.
- Add peppers and onions to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the edges of the onions start to brown. Add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Remove from heat.
- Combine the cooked sausage mixture, cooked mostaccioli, and marinara in a large baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Sprinkle with mozzarella, and parmesan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and started to brown just a touch. If desired garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- Cook the mostaccioli al dente, which means still somewhat firm. It will be baked for a bit with the sausage, veggies, and sauce. Don’t overcook it.
- Other types of tubular pasta to use include penne, ziti, or rigatoni.
- Use good quality Italian sausage. Most butcher shops make their own, and it tastes so much better than processed sausage with all the preservatives in it.
- Substitute ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork for the sausage.
- Grate and shred your cheese fresh from the block. That way, you will not have preservatives, added enzymes, and cellulose.
Nutrition
Calories: 596kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1767mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1037IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 516mg | Iron: 3mg
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