pam's easy mini penne with meat sauce

Name: Pam's Easy Mini Penne with Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 1/2 to 2 cup(s) mini penne pasta, uncooked; 1 to 2 tablespoon(s) vegetable or olive oil; 1 large shallot minced; 1 clove(s) garlic minced; 1/2 pound(s) ground chuck; 1/2 pound(s) italian sausage, sweet, casings removed; 1/2 medium red sweet bell pepper, diced; 1/2 medium zucchini squash, diced; 1 can(s) rosemary and basil flavored diced tomatoes; 2 tablespoon(s) tomato paste; 2/3 to 1 can(s) 12 oz can v-8 juice (approximate); 2 to 3 tablespoon(s) minced italian parsley; 1 to 2 teaspoon(s) each oregano, thyme, and marjoram, minced; 1/4 teaspoon(s) celery salt; 1 to 2 teaspoon(s) sugar; - salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 cup(s) roughly chopped green olives; 2 to 3 ounce(s) grated asiago cheese for serving

(2 RATINGS)

66 Pinches 5 Photos

Pam Ellingson

Wichita, KS

Updated on Apr 10, 2012

Ground chuck and sweet Italian sausage combine with green olives to make a savory meat sauce over mini penne pasta. Served with a salad of fresh mixed greens from the garden and a slice of toasted, buttered Asiago cheese bread. This was a quick and delicious dinner.

Rate

prep time 15 Min

cook time 35 Min

method Stove Top

yield 4 serving(s)

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 cups mini penne pasta, uncooked
1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 large shallot minced
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 pound ground chuck
1/2 pound italian sausage, sweet, casings removed
1/2 medium red sweet bell pepper, diced
1/2 medium zucchini squash, diced
1 can rosemary and basil flavored diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2/3 to 1 cans 12 oz can v-8 juice (approximate)
2 to 3 tablespoons minced italian parsley
1 to 2 teaspoons each oregano, thyme, and marjoram, minced
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup roughly chopped green olives
2 to 3 ounces grated asiago cheese for serving

How To Make pam's easy mini penne with meat sauce

Step 1

In a large saute pan or skillet, heat oil and add minced shallot and garlic. Stir and cook until fragrant but not brown. Add ground chuck and Italian sausage, broken into small bite sized pieces and saute until browned. Add remaining ingredients except sugar, salt and pepper, and olives. Mix well, stir occasionally and let simmer on medium low for about 20 minutes. Add olives and taste to adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Add as much or as little of the sugar as you like, per your preferences. Simmer until sauce is thick enough for your taste. (I like mine really thick)

Step 2

While sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and keep warm.
Step 3

To serve, place a portion of penne on the plate, top with 1/4 of the meat sauce and sprinkle with grated Asiago Cheese. Pass more cheese at the table if desired.
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