Italian Casserole
Recipe from Family Circle

Stay home and enjoy your favorite Italian dinner. Freeze this recipe (without the cheese) in portion-size containers for almost instant dinners. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and bake, covered, in a 350 degrees oven for 30 minutes. Top with cheese and bake 3 to 4 minutes more to melt the cheese.


Italian Casserole

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Servings: 4 or 6 servings
Prep Time: 35 mins
Total Time: 58 mins
Related Categories: Beef Casseroles, Beef Casseroles, Casseroles, Dinner, Ground Beef, Ground Beef Casserole, Hamburger Casseroles, Pasta
 
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Ingredients
  • 2  cups
    dried multigrain or whole grain penne pasta (about 6 ounces)
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  • 1  pound
    lean ground beef
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  • 1/2  cup
    chopped onion (1 medium)
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  • 1/4  cup
    chopped green sweet pepper or sliced pitted ripe olives (optional)
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  • 1  14.5-ounce can
    diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained, cut up
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  • 1  8-ounce can
    no-salt-added tomato sauce
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  • 1/4  teaspoon
    salt
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  • 1/4  teaspoon
    ground black pepper
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  • 3  tablespoons
    snipped fresh oregano
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  • 3  tablespoons
    snipped fresh basil
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  • 1/2  cup
    shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (2 ounces)
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Directions
1.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
2.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook ground beef, onion, and sweet pepper (if using) until meat is brown. Drain off fat. Stir undrained stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, and black pepper into meat mixture in skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir in cooked pasta, oregano, basil, and olives (if using).
3.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spoon the pasta mixture into four or six 10- to 14-ounce individual casseroles.* Place casseroles on a large baking sheet. Bake, covered, about 20 minutes or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

*Tip:
If you do not have individual casseroles, spoon pasta mixture into a 2-quart square baking dish. Bake, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 3 to 4 minutes more or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition information
Calories 433, Total Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 83 mg, Sodium 534 mg, Carbohydrate 45 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 33 g Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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