Main Dish Archives - Page 2 of 12

Poppy Seed Chicken Pitas

August 25, 2017 by Danielle

If you’re looking for something a little different than your typical sandwich, these Poppy Seed Chicken Pitas are just the ticket. Fresh, flavorful with a perfect texture that’ll leave the whole family asking for more. They’re also easy to make ahead of time, so putting them in lunches for school (or work) make the morning rush a little bit easier!

Note: Makes 8 Pitas

Ingredients

4 Wholegrain Pita Breads, cut into halves (8 pita pockets)
2 heaping cups cooked Chicken (I used 2 (1.5 oz.) cans of Chicken Breasts)
½ cup chopped Celery
¼ cup chopped Red Onion or Scallions
¼ cup chopped Walnuts (you can use pecans, almonds, hazelnuts too)
2 heaped tbsp. chopped dried Apricots (or dried Cranberries)
Torn Lettuce to serve

Dressing

1 tbsp. Poppy Seeds
¼ cup Orange Juice
½ cup Mayonnaise
1 tsp. Grainy Mustard (or use Dijon Mustard)
Salt & freshly cracked Pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the orange juice, mayonnaise, mustard, poppy seed, salt and freshly cracked pepper. Whisk until smooth.
Add the chicken, celery, onion, walnuts and apricots into the bowl. Toss it well with the dressing, till everything is well mixed.
Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed. The chicken salad is ready. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
To serve, toast the pita halves in a toaster oven for 2 to 3 minutes at 400 Degrees F.
Stuff the toasted pitas with torn lettuce and about ¼ cup of the poppy seed chicken salad. Serve immediately.

Notes

The chicken salad can be prepared ahead of time – it actually tastes better the next day& makes great leftovers, too.
Shredded rotisserie chicken, poached or grilled chicken chunks can be used, too.
Instead of dried apricots, dried cranberries or even raisins can be used.
Instead of walnuts, use any nuts of choice like pecans, almonds or hazelnuts.
If allergic to nuts, pepitas/pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds are good alternatives.

What’s your favorite type of chicken salad?

Why Instacart is Perfect for Busy Moms

August 15, 2017 by Danielle

This great, time-saving service and recipe is brought to you today thanks to Skinner® pasta. All opinions are mine alone.

Did you know about National Friendship Day? It’s true – and what better way to celebrate or show appreciation for a friend (or two) than telling them about a great service that can save them plenty of time and even money? To all my busy mom friends out there, here’s my gift to you – Why Instacart is Perfect for Busy Moms!

One of the best gifts us busy moms (and dads!) can receive is the gift of time – and grocery delivery can be the ultimate lifesaver. I don’t know about you, but skipping the hassle of getting all the way dressed, heading to the store, finding the items, checking out, and driving back sounds like a miracle – and it’s easy to get! Skinner® Pasta – the #1 pasta in Texas – is partnering with Instacart to offer FREE grocery delivery (or $5 off your total grocery bill) beginning last week on August 6th in celebration of National Friendship Day. Imagine, all your groceries delivered right to your door, and you can even stay in your pjs!

Not only can you get quick, convenient grocery delivery with Instacart thanks to Skinner Pasta, but they’re also holding the Howdy Skinner Sweepstakes – a Texas-sized getaway and other fun prizes sure to make anyone smile. If you win, you could share the trip with your own best friend! Visit HowdySkinner.com to enter, and you’ll have a chance to win a 3-night stay for you (and a friend, of course) at the Marriot Marquis Houston – that includes airfare and $500 spending money for seeing the sites, hitting up restaurants and attractions or a fun shopping spree!

Other fun prizes include membership to Care.com and $500 – giving you more ‘me’ time by handling dog walking, babysitting and housekeeping services – or you could win FREE PASTA for a year for you and a friend! The sweepstakes kicked off on National Friendship Day (August 6th) and ends 09/06/17 at 11:59:59pm CDT. See details and official rules at HowdySkinner.com.

As part of their partnership with Skinner, Instacart is giving free grocery delivery for customers in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas. All you have to do is buy ONE package of Skinner Pasta and have a minimum $35 order. Those who don’t qualify for free delivery (if you’re already an Instacart Express Customer or a first time customer) will receive $5 off your order (delivery must be $35 or more to qualify).

No matter what Skinner Pasta you choose to add to your Instacart, it’d taste great with our Homemade Alfredo Sauce recipe:

Ingredients

2 tbsp. Butter
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1 tsp. Red Pepper flakes
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 tbsp. All-purpose Flour
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated or shredded

Directions

In a medium saucepan, melt the Butter over medium heat.
Add the Red Pepper Flakes (adjust based on your desired ‘kick’) and minced Garlic, cooking about 1 minute or until fragrant.
Mix in the Flour; cook until light tan in color.
Mix in the Cream, reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the Parmesan, stirring until melted in, then remove saucepan from heat.

This goes great as a topping for your favorite Skinner Pasta – whether you use spaghetti like we did here, or their fun Texas shape pasta! Skinner Pasta tastes great and is easy to cook with; it always turns out right. Not only is it gentle on your wallet, but it’s so flexible – allowing you to make all sorts of delish recipes in a hurry for those busy family nights or get-togethers with friends!

Who would YOU share the Houston trip with if you won?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Skinner® pasta.

Fajita Pasta Casserole

August 2, 2017 by Danielle

Thanks to Skinner® pasta for sponsoring this recipe. All opinions are my own.
As a big family of 7, having great go-to dinner recipes that are not only delicious, but also quick are a necessity. One thing we rely on to make our evenings less of a stress are excellent pasta dishes, like this amazing Fajita Pasta Casserole! It’s simple to make, doesn’t take much time, and is so full of flavor that it’s a hit with the whole family.

Why do we make pasta dishes so often for our family? Because it tastes great, is flexible for a TON of great recipes, and it’s great for any budget. That’s probably one of the reasons Skinner pasta is the #1 pasta in Texas – everyone loves it, it’s so easy to cook and has earned Non-GMO Project Verification on their most popular pasta products.

Skinner pasta has a variety of pasta products available, such as spaghetti and fettuccine, elbows and penne (our favorite) and even options like dumplings and super fun Skinner Texas Shape pasta! I couldn’t resist using those to whip up this Fajita Pasta Casserole, since they’re so cute.

Since people have different favorites in which variety of pasta they prefer – for us it’s penne, for some it’s spaghetti – you can switch this recipe up to include whichever Skinner pasta fits your style! If you’re a proud Texan like us, maybe you’ll even choose the same style as we did for this particular recipe.
One of my favorite things about this fajita pasta casserole is that you can also switch up the peppers to fit your preference – my kids like more green peppers, while if it’s just for hubby and me, we like more of the red or orange. Mix it up so it fits YOUR family’s tastes! After all, the best dinners are not only easy and delicious, but make everyone happy 🙂

Ingredients

2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
3 Tbsp. taco or fajita seasoning
2 cups yellow onion, diced
2 cups bell peppers, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
5 oz. tomatoes, diced
5 oz. green Chiles, diced
8 oz (about 3 cups) Skinner pasta
Dash salt

Directions

Season the chicken pieces with half the taco seasoning.
In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat until very hot. Carefully add the chicken in a single layer and cook WITHOUT STIRRING until one side is seared and browned, about 1-2 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook the other side the same way, until browned.
Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet with the heat still on high and cook until really hot. Add the onions, bell peppers, and last of the taco seasoning.
Cook, now stirring occasionally, until the veggies are starting to blacken a little bit. Turn heat to low and add in the garlic. Stir until well-mixed, about 30 seconds. Place the veggies onto the plate with the chicken.
In the same skillet, mix the broth, cream, tomatoes, UNCOOKED pasta, and salt. Stir until well-combined and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and cook COVERED for 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed. Mix the chicken and veggies back into the skillet until well combined and heated through, about 2 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy!

I love serving this dish to my family because everyone loves it, and it doesn’t take me much time or effort – great for a busy weeknight meal! It’ll especially come in handy when we’re back to school in a few weeks and our schedules get even more crazy.

What pasta style/shape would YOU choose?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Skinner® pasta.

20+ Irresistible Bacon Recipes

July 27, 2017 by Danielle

It seems like a major food-craze that hasn’t gone away in past years is BACON. People love it – and for good reason, since it’s downright delicious! Here we’re sharing 20+ Irresistible Bacon Recipes, with everything from breakfast, sides, rolls, snacks and more to fit into your bacon craving any time of day.

Bacon, Cheddar, and Jalapeno Pinwheels – Yellow Bliss Road

Broccoli Bacon Cheddar Chicken – Julia’s Album

Savory Bacon Pineapple Bites – Small Town Woman

Smothered Bacon Green Beans – Plain Chicken

My Favorite Strawberry Bacon Salad – Sally’s Baking Addiction

Bacon Wrapped Kielbasa Bites with Brown Sugar Glaze – What the Fork

Grilled Chocolate Chip Cookie Bacon S’mores – Creme De La Crumb

Breakfast Casserole with Bacon – Dinner at the Zoo

Bacon Cheeseburger Bombs – Spend with Pennies

Bacon Wrapped Cheese Sticks – Kirbie Carvings

Avocado Bacon Egg Rolls – Lil Luna

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad – Life in the Lofthouse

Cheesy Garlic Sausage and Bacon Carbonora – Nest of Posies

Chicken Bacon Ranch Fries – Well Plated

Bacon Bourbon Meatballs – House of Yumm

Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon – The Suburban Soapbox

Maple Bacon Donuts – I Heart Naptime

Maple Syrup Buttercream Cupcakes – Wilton

Bacon Wrapped Mediterranean Chicken – Brianna Thomas

Sweet Potato Spinach Bacon Burgers – Taste of Lizzy T’s

What’s YOUR favorite bacon recipe?

Marinated Sausage Kabobs

June 13, 2017 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Klement’s Sausage. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love family get-togethers, and summer seems to have many more opportunities for these than normal. For us, it has to do with the fact that most of our family lives in a different state, so summer trips bring us together. While quality time with loved ones is great, it seems some of the most memorable moments are around a great meal. This summer is no exception with one of our new family favorites – these delicious and easy-to-make Marinated Sausage Kabobs! What better time to share this new, tasty recipe that our family is going crazy for than right in time for What’s Cooking Wednesday? I’m sure y’all have plenty of occasions this summer – or anytime of year, really – when a quality meal with those you care about is just the ticket. I love using Klement’s Sausage – their fully cooked and hardwood-smoked dinner sausages provide the rich, robust taste that makes this recipe a winning dinner. Their authentic European handcrafted sausage has been bringing people together for generations – I mean, what better time than during a great meal to help busy households slow down and (literally) savor the moment together?

When we first served these sausage kabobs to our kids, I was afraid they’d be picking out all the pineapple to eat first because I assumed that’d be their favorite ingredient. Nope – they were begging for just more of the Klement’s sausage pieces! They absolutely loved all three of the dinner sausages we tried – the Smoked Bratwurst, Polish and Cheddar Bratwurst. Hubby and I couldn’t pick my favorite of the three, either, because they each had their own take on that great, Old World flavor and authentic taste you appreciate in European recipes. Not only are these sausage kabobs a crowd-pleasing favorite in flavor, but they don’t take much time at all. Plus, it’s like a family event BUILDING the kabobs – each person selecting which ingredients they want, creating fun patterns if they like, and truly making it not just a meal, but a memorable gathering full of conversation and fun.

Ingredients

Klement’s Dinner Links
Produce of Choice: Colored Peppers, Onion, Mushrooms, Pineapple, Zucchini, Squash, etc.
Marinade: Red Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil, Minced Garlic
Kabob Sticks

Directions

Dice all of the ingredients, including the sausage, into large pieces. Be sure you’ve pre-washed the produce.
Build the kabobs as desired, lay on a tray.
For the marinade, mix equal parts red wine vinegar and olive oil. Per cup of this, add about 1-2 tbsp. minced garlic. It doesn’t stay mixed, so you’ll need to stir often. Use a basting brush to baste each of the kabobs.
Grill until vegetables are tender, or cook in the oven (350 Degrees F) on a baking sheet lined with foil about 10-20 minutes, or until veggies are tender.
Enjoy!

Note: if you don’t have kabob sticks, or are in a bigger hurry, just dump all the diced ingredients into a sprayed baking dish, stir in the marinade, then bake at 350 Degrees F about 15-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Whether you’re having a weekly family dinner, a summertime gathering with relatives, or even just a random meal at home, these Klement’s sausage kabobs are full of flavor and perfect for spending a delicious meal with those you love.

Search #WhatsCookingWednesday for great new recipes every week!

Delicious Chicken Pasta Casserole 3 Ways

June 7, 2017 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSecret #CollectiveBias

As a busy mom, y’all know how much I love easy-to-make dinners, right? The problem is, I don’t want just ANY simple recipe, I want something that tastes amazing and that my whole family will enjoy. That’s one reason I love today’s recipe – you can whip up this Delicious Chicken Pasta Casserole 3 Ways – making it appeal to any of your family’s tastes, and giving you a great meal without the hassle!

You don’t even need a lot of ingredients – just swing by Walmart to grab the few you do, then enjoy this anytime of the week. Don’t forget to stock up on the NEW P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu Sauces exclusively at Walmart, which you can find in the Asian food aisle.

These sauces are the simple secret to extraordinary flavor in your favorite recipes, and contribute to Asian cuisine made simple. We all love simple recipes, right?! These are also key to doing our Chicken Pasta Casserole 3 different ways – using their Teriyaki, Sesame or Kung Pao sauce to switch it up.

Ingredients

1 box Penne Pasta
P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu Sauce of choice, to taste
1 1/2 cups Alfredo Sauce
1-2 cups Chicken, boneless & skinless
1/2 cup Flour
Salt & Pepper, to taste
If desired for topping: tomatoes, vegetables, sesame seeds, cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. In a shallow bowl, mix the flour with a bit of salt and pepper. Slice the chicken into thin strips, then coat each with flour and lay on a baking sheet covered with foil. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
While chicken is baking, cook pasta according to package directions. After drained, pour pasta into a sprayed 9×13 casserole dish. Stir in the alfredo sauce, then the P.F. Chang’s® Home Menu Sauce of choice, to taste.
Once chicken is done, dice then stir into casserole along with any veggies/toppings you prefer. Cover with foil and heat in oven at 350 Degrees about 5-10 minutes, or until everything is heated throughout. Enjoy!

My personal favorite was the pasta casserole made with the Sesame sauce, but the other two turned out great, as well. Hubby was particular to the Kung Pao, of course…

…while the kids were torn between the Sesame and the Teriyaki.

Whatever your family’s preference, this chicken pasta casserole is a huge hit – and it’s even better because you can customize it using these incredible sauces to fit anyone’s tastes!

Check out the fun Sweepstakes & find more Asian recipe inspiration HERE!

23 Delicious & Nutritious Smoothie Bowl Recipes

May 5, 2017 by Christina Leaman

I absolutely LOVE a good smoothie bowl recipe. I remember the first time I ever tried one – at a hotel in Beverly Hills on a press trip, and their Acai version sounded completely delicious for breakfast – and it was! Ever since I’ve enjoyed all sorts of smoothie bowl recipes, and here’s 23 Delicious & Nutritious Smoothie Bowl Recipes to add to the list!

I thought this would be a little change from the healthier chocolate smoothie bowl recipes I shared before, and give you even more choices for a tasty breakfast, snack or heck – even a dessert! Anytime is a good time for a smoothie bowl, so pick one to try and enjoy!

20 Creative Snack Ideas with Fruit

May 1, 2017 by Danielle

Do you have picky eaters in your home? My kids do fairly well – but they’re still kids so of course there’s plenty of delish food that they just refuse to eat. I think it’s a trial all parents must go through – getting our children to eat a variety of foods, and hopefully some healthy ones like fruit! To help you with your battle, here’s 20 Creative Snack Ideas with Fruit – make mealtime or snacktime fun again with these clever fruity creations!

Aren’t some of these absolutely GENIUS! The berry ladybugs are totally adorable, and I personally would love to try the frozen rainbow fruit kabobs. These creative snack ideas will have your kids EXCITED for a healthy fruit snack – and leave you without an extra battle to deal with 🙂

1. Fruity Surprise Ice Lollies
2. Fruit Sushi
3. Fruit Sculpture
4. Strawberry Ladybugs
5. Fun Fruit Creations For Kids
6. Fruit Monsters
7. Rainbow Fruit Pizza
8. Fun Kids Party Treats
9. Fresh Fruit Tray
10. Beach Ball Fruit Pizza
11. Thanksgiving Fruit Turkey
12. Green Monster Fruit Pops
13. Individual Snack Portions of Mixed Fruit
14. Silly Apple Monster Bites
15. Frozen Rainbow Fruit Kebabs
16. Melon Carving For A Baby Shower
17. Apple Peanut Butter Teeth
18. Monster Apples
19. Strawberry Kiwi Icepops
20. Summer Fruit Kebabs

Which creative snack idea is YOUR favorite?

Kale Stir Fry Recipe

April 25, 2017 by Danielle

Another holiday has come and gone and while it’s nice to indulge a bit (can you say chocolate bunnies?), I always feel so ready to eat a little healthier after all that comfort food, and this Kale Stir Fry recipe is perfect for a healthy snack or side dish!

If you’ve never made stir fry at home, let me tell you just how simple and delicious it is. Did you know they even make stir fry veggie kits in the freezer section of your grocery store? It couldn’t be more simple to put together a healthy meal for your family, or even a quick and easy lunch for just you!

I love this version because it’s full of yummy green veggies, bright citrus and a flavorful cheese – feta! Scroll down for the recipe.

Kale Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1 Medium Sliced Zucchini
6 Cups Kale Chopped
½ Cup Quinoa
1 Onion Chopped
½ Cup Feta Crumbles
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
½ Teaspoon Olive Oil
½ Cup Water
½ Teaspoon Garlic Salt

Directions:

Follow directions of making quinoa.
Set quinoa aside.
On medium heat in a large pan add olive oil.
Add onion and zucchini and allow to cook until tender.
Add garlic salt.
Add kale and water.
Allow to steam for 5-10 minutes until kale is tender.
Add quinoa.
Toss ingredients.
Top with Feta and lemon juice.

Have you ever tried making stir fry at home?

Pesto Pasta with Grape Tomatoes & Chickpeas

March 24, 2017 by Danielle

Who’s ready for a delicious, easy dinner recipe that’ll please their whole family? I love that this is ‘simple’ enough that even the kids will be asking for more, but unique enough that it’s a refreshing change from the normal weeknight meal. Or am I the only one who gets sick of the same pasta and marinara sauce so often? Anywho, this Pesto Pasta with Grape Tomatoes & Chickpeas is such a fresh, filling meal that everyone will enjoy.

Doesn’t it look AMAZING?! I’m a huge fan of grape tomatoes, so when they can be served in a dish alongside pasta (another fave of mine), with the complimentary great taste of the pesto and chickpeas, I’m in dinnertime heaven!

Note: serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 (12 oz.) packet of Spaghetti
1 (15 oz.) can of Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 oz.) box of Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1 cup of Basil Pesto (store-bought or homemade)
2 to 3 fat cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
Fresh Basil or Italian flat leaf parsley to garnish
Grated parmesan to serve

Instructions

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 9 minutes or according to package instruction. Drain and keep aside. Reserve about half a cup of the cooking water.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Add the drained chickpeas and sauté it for a couple of minutes, or till it is slightly golden.
Next add the halved grape or cherry tomatoes and cook for couple more minutes, or until the juices release. Add the spaghetti and give it a good toss. Take it off the flame.
Add the pesto and toss well to coat each strand. If needed add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water to coat the pasta. Snip in some fresh Italian parsley for freshness.
Divide the pasta between 4 to 6 serving bowls. Garnish with grated parmesan and enjoy!

Note: Pesto tends to turn brown when exposed to heat, so before adding the pesto, take the pasta off the heat.

Sticky Finger Casserole

November 15, 2016 by Danielle

When we first started dating, my hubby was definitely the main cook in the relationship. One of the dishes he LOVED to make included an amazing, spicy-yet-sweet sauce for chicken, that we’ve since included in many different recipes. We decided to put it to the test with this Sticky Finger Casserole, and it was a huge hit! This easy recipe is super delicious, and would be perfect for a party or get-together.

One variation we did was the Spicy Jerk Chicken recipe we shared a couple years ago. It’s amazing, especially served with rice. For this one, we wanted to try it with pasta instead – and loved the combination of the spicy sauce, chicken, pasta and Alfredo! Now this has us thinking of plenty more recipes we can switch it up with 🙂

Ingredients

1 Box Penne Pasta
16 oz. Alfredo Sauce
3/4 – 1 cup Green Onions, diced
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded – plus some for topping
6 Medium-Sized Chicken Tenders, breaded
1 Jar (23 oz.) Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
3 cups Brown Sugar, packed

Note: if your chicken tenders aren’t already breaded, just dip them in some eggs, then flour to coat and bake as directed.

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, bake the chicken tenders on a sprayed baking sheet until cooked through (about 30 minutes at 375 Degrees F.)
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, Alfredo, green onions, tomatoes and 1 cup cheese until well-mixed. Spread into a sprayed 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. In a saucepan, heat the hot sauce and brown sugar, stirring often, over medium-high heat until sugar is fully dissolved. Using tongs, dip the chicken tenders in the sauce to coat well, allow to drip a moment, then place chicken on top of casserole. Repeat with all tenders.
Sprinkle some more cheese over top, then place in oven and cook just until cheese is melted and casserole is warm throughout – about 15-30 minutes, depending on how freshly done the pasta and chicken was. Serve with more hot sauce mixture, if desiring more spicy!

Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole

October 27, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla® and Johnsonville®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

Let’s be honest – whether you love cooking or not, none of us have a ton of time to spend on dinner. Between homework, soccer games, and other appointments, there’s only so much we can do – but we still want a delicious, hot meal ready for our family. I’m so glad I have some amazing go-to recipes that don’t take a ton of work, and also don’t break the bank. This Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole is a big winner with our family!

You can whip up this tasty dish for less than $10, and easily grab all the ingredients you need at your local Kroger store. The main stars of this particular recipes are the Barilla Pasta (look for the Barilla Blue Box), Italy’s #1 brand of pasta, and the Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage (ground). You CAN use the sausage links instead, but it works best with the ground so you can have some in every bite of the casserole.

The Barilla pasta makes the perfect Al Dente texture, making dinner not only quick and easy, but versatile! We moms can sure appreciate versatility, right? The Johnsonville Sausage is convenient and full of flavor – the spices are built in, making recipe prep super simple. Since we want to provide the best for our families, we can definitely appreciate that they’re packed with protein, and a great flavor ‘swap’ for ground beef and/or ground turkey.

Makes One 9×13 Casserole

Ingredients

1 box Barilla Blue Box Pasta – Penne, Rotini or similar
8 oz. Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage Ground
2 tbsp. Olive or Vegetable Oil
16-20 oz. Barilla Pasta Sauce of choice
2 tbsp. Basil, ground (plus some for topping)
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 tbsp. Minced Garlic
1 cup Cheese, shredded (combo of Romano, Asiago & Parmesan, as desired)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, for topping
Salt, to taste

Note: The Johnsonville Sausage comes in a 16 oz. pack, so you can make a double batch and freeze the extra casserole for later!

Directions

Bake Barilla Pasta according to package directions, to al dente. Meanwhile, heat the olive/vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the Johnsonville Sausage until cooked through, stirring often to prevent burning.
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line a 9×13 baking dish (or two if you’re doubling the recipe), set aside.
When the sausage is done, add the diced tomatoes and minced garlic to the skillet and continue cooking, still stirring often, about 2 minutes or until fragrant.
In a large bowl, stir the Barilla Pasta Sauce with the basil. Add a little salt, to taste. Mix in the shredded cheese trio (the Asiago, Romano and Parmesan combo) until well-combined.
Add the pasta and sausage mixture to the bowl and stir until everything is well-mixed. Spread into the prepared baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella and a bit more basil for garnish. Cook, uncovered, about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted. Serve and enjoy!

You’ll love the cheesy, meaty flavor in this pasta casserole – plus it makes putting a crowd-pleasing dinner on the table a breeze! Swing by Kroger and grab your ingredients, then get cooking for a delicious meal your whole family will love!