Flavorful Pasta Bake

Easy baked pasta dish with lots of yummy ingredients!

• 16 oz. package of Cavatappi or Penne pasta
• 1/2 lb. Italian sausage mild removed from casings
• 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 white onion diced
• 1/2 sweet red pepper diced
• 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce or homemade
• About 30 pieces of sliced pepperoni diced
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 4 oz. of skim ricotta
• 1 8 oz package shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp. dried basil

Boil water and cook the pasta as directed on package. While the pasta is cooking make the meat sauce:

On medium heat, pan cook the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks and loses its pink color. Add the chopped onion. Add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks and incorporate it into the sausage. Add the diced red pepper. Once the meat is cooked through, pour in half a jar of your favorite sauce and add the diced pepperoni reserving a little bit for the top. Continue to simmer. 

Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Pour in the meat mixture, the ricotta and the parmesan cheese. Stir until combined.

Put a thin layer of sauce at the bottom of the baking dish (9 x 13). Transfer the pasta into the baking dish. Add the rest of the sauce on top and scatter the remaining pepperoni. Top with shredded mozzarella and sprinkle with dried basil. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.