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italian bake casserole

(8 ratings)
LUV2COOKNBAKE2 avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Diane Taylor
@LUV2COOKNBAKE2
Glen Allen, VA

My family loves this dish each time I make it. This is a dish that is requested all the time. They look forward to taking home the leftovers, which always taste better the next day. I changed the recipe to my liking and usually use the pasta that I have available. I don't add the olives and sometimes use spaghetti sauce instead of the stewed tomatoes. I tend to change recipes according to the likes and dislikes of my family. I usually don't measure my seasonings and adjust the seasonings accordingly. I taste the sauce as it simmers all day. This is a casserole that always changes.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Throw this simple Italian baked casserole together when you need a weeknight meal. Onions and peppers are cooked in the sausage drippings and are a flavor base. Tomatoes add another layer of flavor and texture. The aroma of the sausage and the onions, garlic, and peppers baking is heavenly. It's a good recipe the entire family will love. If you like your pasta coated with sauce, we recommend using tomato sauce in place of the stewed tomatoes.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(8 ratings)
yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 45 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For italian bake casserole

  • 1 lb
    Italian sausage links, sliced
  • 3 c
    fresh sliced mushrooms, optional
  • 1 md
    onion, chopped
  • 1 md
    bell pepper chopped
  • 1 tsp
    minced garlic
  • 1 can
    black olives, halved (2 oz; optional)
  • 2 can
    Italian stewed tomatoes (15 oz. each)
  • 1 tsp
    Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 8 oz
    rotini pasta, cooked al dente
  • 8 oz
    shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

How To Make italian bake casserole

  • Brown sausage.
    1
    In a large skillet, cook Italian sausage until slices are no longer pink; about 10 minutes. Remove sausage from the skillet and reserve about 2 Tbsp of the drippings.
  • Saute mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, and garlic.
    2
    In a skillet, saute mushrooms, onions, bell pepper, and garlic until tender-crisp.
  • Combine sausage, tomatoes, and seasonings.
    3
    In a large bowl, combine sausage, tomatoes, seasonings, and optional olives.
  • Mix in mushroom mixture.
    4
    Mix in the cooked onion, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic.
  • Spread half the cooked pasta in a baking dish.
    5
    In the bottom of a 9x13 dish, spread half of the al dente pasta.
  • Add half of the sausage mixture.
    6
    Add half of the tomato sausage mixture.
  • Sprinkle cheese.
    7
    Sprinkle half of the cheese over the sausage mixture.
  • Add another layer of pasta and sausage mixture.
    8
    Top the cheese with the other half of the pasta and then the sausage mixture.
  • Cover and bake the casserole.
    9
    Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
  • Sprinkle additional cheese and continue to bake.
    10
    Uncover and top with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 - 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Two bowls of Italian Bake Casserole.
    11
    Variation: I sometimes use spaghetti sauce instead of the Italian stewed tomatoes and season to my taste. I cook the sausage, onions, peppers and add to the spaghetti sauce. The sauce is cooked for 4 to 5 hours in the Crock Pot and then layered in a casserole or 9x13 baking dish. I tend to use 2 cups of cheese because we are cheese lovers. To change the taste I will vary the cheese with the shredded Italian blend cheese and mozzarella cheese. I cook this until the casserole is heated and the cheese is bubbling and melted.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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