Sausage And Bean Casserole

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic (or to taste)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 -3 tablespoons oil
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (or use diced tomatoed with juice)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb mostaccioli pasta, cooked to firm-tender and drained
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh italian parsley, chopped (or to taste)
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated (mozzeralla)

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 400 degrees.
• 2 grease a 13 x 9 casserole dish.
• 3 in a heavy large sautepan, saute the first 6 ingredients over medium-high heat until sausage and beef are brown, crumbling with a fork (about 5 minutes).
• 4 add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and cayenne; simmer for 5 minuted, breaking up tomatoes with back of a spoon.
• 5 add in the kidney beans, and heat through just for a few minutes.
• 6 season with salt and pepper.
• 7 add in the cooked mostaccioli pasta, parmesan and parsley; toss to combine.
• 8 transfer to prepared baking dish.
• 9 sprinkle with the grated fontina or provolone.
• 10 bake for about 30 minutes, or until cheese melts -- delicious!