Meaty Pasta Casseroles

Name: Meaty Pasta Casseroles
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 2 casseroles (6 servings each).
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta; 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound bulk Italian pork sausage; 1-3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 medium green pepper, chopped; 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian diced tomatoes; 1 jar (23-1/2 ounces) Italian sausage and garlic spaghetti sauce; 1 jar (16 ounces) chunky mild salsa; 1 package (8 ounces) sliced pepperoni, chopped; 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided; 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided; 1-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided; 1 jar (24 ounces) 3-cheese spaghetti sauce

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 35 min. YIELD: 2 casseroles (6 servings each).

I love this recipe because it makes two hearty casseroles. Every time I make it I add a little something different, such as extra garlic, to give it an added boost of flavor. —Debra Butcher, Decatur, Indiana

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian pork sausage
1-3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) Italian diced tomatoes
1 jar (23-1/2 ounces) Italian sausage and garlic spaghetti sauce
1 jar (16 ounces) chunky mild salsa
1 package (8 ounces) sliced pepperoni, chopped
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1 jar (24 ounces) 3-cheese spaghetti sauce

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef, sausage, mushrooms, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking meat into crumbles; drain.
2. Drain pasta; add to the meat mixture. Stir in the tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, salsa and pepperoni.
3. Preheat oven to 350°. Divide half the pasta mixture between 2 greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Sprinkle each with 1/4 cup Swiss cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Spread 3/4 cup 3-cheese spaghetti sauce over each. Top with remaining pasta mixture and 3-cheese spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses.
4. Cover and bake until bubbly, about 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 708 calories, 38g fat (16g saturated fat), 106mg cholesterol, 1788mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 5g fiber), 38g protein.