Healthy edition Spinach and Sausage Pasta Bake
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
1 1 ⁄ 2 lbs chicken sausage olive oil (optional) 2 onions, coarsely chopped 5 garlic cloves , minced 1 large sweet red pepper, coarsely chopped 20-28 ounces meatless extra chunky pasta sauce 1 can tomato sauce 1 tbs dried basil 2 tbs oregano 1 teaspoon fennel seed 6 cups penne pasta (1 box) 1 cup of yogurt 8 oz package fresh spinach (trimmed and coarsely chopped) 2 cups shredded provolone cheese or 2 cups mozzarella cheese 1 cup grated asiago cheese or 1 cup parmesan cheese
Ingredients
  • 1 1⁄2lbs chicken sausage
  • olive oil (optional)
  • 2 onions, coarsely chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 large sweet red pepper, coarsely chopped
  • 20-28 ounces meatless extra chunky pasta sauce
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 tbs dried basil
  • 2 tbs oregano
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 6 cups penne pasta (1 box)
  • 1 cup of yogurt
  • 8 oz package fresh spinach (trimmed and coarsely chopped)
  • 2 cups shredded provolone cheese or 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup grated asiago cheese or 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Cut sausage into ½ inch chunks. I large skillet, brown sausage over medium-high heat, in batches and adding oil if necessary. Transfer sausage to a bowl.
  2. Add to the oil mixture the onions, garlic and red pepper, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pasta sauce, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and fennel seeds; bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Return sausage and any accumulated juices to pan; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until sausage is firm throughout.
  3. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta for 6 minutes, add spinach;cook for 1 minute. Drain well and return to pot. Add one cup of yogurt Add sausage mixture and provolone/mozzarella cheese; stir to combine well.
  4. Transfer to 2 greased 8-inch square baking dishes or 1 13x9-inch dish. Sprinkle with Asiago/parmesan cheese. Cover dish with greased foil, greased side down. You can add tomatoes or basil to the top for extra flair
  5. To serve: Bake, covered with foil, in in 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or for 1 hour if from the refrigerator. This freezes beautifully (thaw in refrigerator before baking).
Recipe by Growing Weisser at https://www.growingweisser.com/healthy-edition-spinach-and-sausage-pasta-bake