Categories: Casserole, Main Dish, Pork

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rotini pasta (whole wheat)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup celery , sliced fine
• 1 small onion , minced
• 1/2 green pepper , minced
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms , chopped
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 8 ounces sweet Italian sausage , casing removed
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 cups cheese , Italian blend, shredded

Directions

1. Adjust an oven rack to middle postition. Grease a 13×9 in baking dish and set aside. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Bring 4 qts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tsp salt and cook, stirring often, according to package directions. Drain pasta and transfer to baking dish.

3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown beef and sausage until no longer pink- drain excess grease. Add celery, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms and 1 tsp salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, pepper flakes, and 1 tsp pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

4. Stir in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook until flavors are blended, about 5 minute Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside, off heat.

5. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over pasta. Then pour meat mixture on top of this. Then sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese evenly on top of meat mixture.

6. Place baking dish on a baking sheet, covering with foil. Bake in the pre-heated oven about 45 minutes, until sauce is bubbling. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes, until top is spotty brown. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

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