italian bake casserole
I ran across this recipe years ago. My family loves this dish each time I make it. This is a dish that is requested all the time in my family. 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 I 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 just adjust the seasonings accordingly. I taste the sauce as it simmers all day. This is a casserole that always changes each time I make it.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
This casserole looks every bit as good it tastes! The aroma of the sausage and the onions, garlic and peppers all blended so well. My husband came into the kitchen and said it smelled like an Italian restaurant! I see this being a great recipe to take to a pot luck... everyone will love it!
Ingredients For italian bake casserole
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1 lbItalian sausage links, sliced
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3 cfresh sliced mushrooms (optional)
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1onion chopped
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1bell pepper chopped
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1 tspminced garlic
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2 can15 oz. Italian stewed tomatoes
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1 tspItalian seasoning
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8 ozrotini pasta, cooked al dente, drained
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18 oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
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12 oz can pitted ripe olives, halved ( optional)
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salt and pepper to taste
How To Make italian bake casserole
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1In large skillet, cook Italian sausage until slices are no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
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2Remove sausage from the skillet and reserve about 2 tablespoons of the drippings.
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3In skillet, saute mushrooms, onions, bell pepper and garlic just under tender-crisp.
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4In large bowl, combine sausage, mushrooms, bell pepper mixture, stewed tomatoes, Italian seasoning.
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5Place a layer of pasta on the bottom of dish. Spoon mixture into a greased 3-quart or 9x13 baking dish. Add half of the mozzarella cheese and repeat layers.
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6Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheese over top of casserole and return to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted on top.
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7Variation: I always 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 along with the mozzarella cheese. I cook this until the casserole is heated throughout and the cheese is bubbling and melted.
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