Baked Italian Casserole
                    
                        
                            Cook Time
                            60
                            mins
                        
                        
                            Calories
                            574
                        
                        
                            Serving Size
                            10
                        
                     
                    
                        
                            Carbs
                            32.5
                        
                        
                            Fat
                            29.5
                        
                        
                            Protein
                            43.6
                        
                     
                 
                
                        
                            Photo by:
                            Recipe-of-Today
                        
                
                
                    
                        
description
                        Better than it looks, I swear
                    
                    
                        ingredients
                        
- 1 lb. ground beef
 
- 1 lb. ground Italian "mild" sausage
 
- 1 large onion, chopped
 
- 1 28oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
 
- 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
 
- 1 T. minced garlic
 
- 1 16 oz. box rigatoni pasta
 
- 1 15oz. tub whole mile ricotta cheese
 
- 1 egg
 
- 12 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
 
- 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese
 
- 2 T. olive oil
 
- 3 tsp. Italian seasoning
 
- pinch red pepper flakes
 
- pinch of salt and pepper
 
- dried basil
 
                     
                    
                        directions
                        
- In a large skillet, over med. high heat add the olive oil and onions and sauté till tender (about 5 minutes)
 
- Add in the ground beef and sausage and cook until browned and cooked through. 
 
- Drain the grease, leaving a little in the pan for moisture. Add in the garlic, canned tomatoes with juice and the tomato sauce. Stir well
 
- Add in 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, pinch of salt and pepper and red pepper flakes. 
 
- Once combined, remove 1 C. to a bowl and set aside to cool. Cover remaining sauce and simmer on low for 20 minutes. 
 
- While the meat sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta with 1 T. of salt till tender. 
 
- In another bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 beaten egg, 1 C. of mozzarella cheese, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning and the Parmesan cheese. 
 
- When pasta is done, drain and add to the ricotta mixture stir to combine and then add the cooled sauce to the pasta and combine. 
 
- In a 10x13 deep sided dish, lightly grease with cooking spray. 
 
- Layer 1/2 of the noodle mixture in the bottom, top with 1/2 of the meat mixture then 1/2 of the cheese. 
 
- Repeat for the final layer and sprinkle with dried basil on top of the cheese. 
 
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until cheese is browning and casserole is bubbly.
 
from ROT - more here!