Make a delicious and satisfying Italian casserole for dinner tonight. Hot Italian sausage, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, pasta, marinara sauce and cheese make it a great, comforting dish. Serve it with a side salad and garlic bread.
1 lb. rigatoni or ziti
1 lb. hot Italian sausage, cut into bite size pieces
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 sweet onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
14.5 oz. can diced or fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
24 oz. marinara sauce
2 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 T. chopped parsley
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.
Bring a large pot of well salted water to a rolling boil; cook pasta 10 - 12 minutes, until al dente.
In a large skillet, add the Italian sausage; cook over medium heat until browned through, about 10 minutes. Add peppers, onion and garlic; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes; cook 3 - 4 minutes, until heated through.
If your skillet is large enough, place the rigatoni, marinara sauce ad 1 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese in with the Italian sausage mixture; stir. Or pour the Italian sausage mixture into a large bowl and toss it with the rigatoni, marinara sauce and 1 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese.
Pour this mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake 25 - 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve.