There are few feelings more satisfying than knowing you brought the best dish to the potluck. Potluck Italian Sausage Casserole guarantees that euphoria, and that’s before you even find out how good it tastes! Layers of tender-cooked pasta, juicy ground sausage, roasted vegetables, and melty cheese baked to golden brown perfection — how could anyone say no? Potluck Italian Sausage Casserole only takes an hour to make, so it’ll be warm and ready by the time the first guests arrive, leaving you no time to worry. Get ready for the compliments to start rolling in!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) box penne
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14-ounce) jar pasta sauce with meat flavoring
- 2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, optional, to taste, minced
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –Cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the pasta and pour it into the prepared baking dish.
Step 5 –In a large skillet, cook the sausage, while crumbling, over medium heat until it is no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 6 –Drain the fat from the pan and transfer the sausage to a plate.
Step 7 –In the same skillet, heat the butter and the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Step 8 –Add the onions, the carrots, the oregano, the salt, and the pepper, and cook, while stirring, for 5 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the zucchini, the mushrooms, and the garlic, and cook, while stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 10 –Stir in the tomato sauce, the pasta sauce, and the sausage.
Step 11 –Pour the sauce mixture over the pasta.
Step 12 –Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the mozzarella cheese.
Step 13 –Cover the casserole with foil coated in cooking spray.
Step 14 –Bake for 10 minutes.
Step 15 –Uncover and bake until golden-brown and the cheese is melted, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 16 –Let the casserole stand at room temperature for at least 10 minutes.
Step 17 –Garnish with the parsley and serve!
