Broccoli Sausage Pasta Bake

Whoops - forgot to hit publish on this one yesterday, so here you go!

While I love a good homecooked meal I'm often looking for shortcuts, especially on weeknights when it seems there just isn't enough time to pull out all of the pots and pans.  Meals like this Broccoli Sausage Pasta Bake from Erin Lives Whole make it super easy since besides cooking the sausage ahead of time, everything {including the pasta!} bakes in one dish.  It's an easy and satisfying meal that can be replaced with different meats and veggies you may have on hand and with just a few simple ingredients you'll have dinner ready in no time.

Broccoli Sausage Pasta Bake

Ingredients

1 lb ground sausage

2 tblsp olive oil

1 large shallot, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups chopped broccoli

16oz box pasta {such as penne, rigatoni, etc}

24oz jar marinara sauce

2 cups chicken stock

2 cups whole milk

1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt & pepper

chopped fresh basil

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cook sausage in a skillet until done, crumbling into small pieces.  Set aside.

3. In 9x13 casserole dish, add olive oil, shallot, garlic, and broccoli.  Layer on sausage, uncooked pasta noodles, red sauce, chicken stock, and milk.  Sprinkle on top 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.

4. Mix until combined well.  Press down on pasta until mostly covered with liquid mixture.

5. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Take off foil, add remaining cheese on top, and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

6. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.

Serves 8

adapted from erin lives whole

xoxo,

stephanie marie