Sausage, Beef & Beans Casserole

Cooking Instructions:

  • 3/4 pound hot or sweet Italian bulk sausage
  • 3/4 pound ground beef
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1- 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, or Italian seasoning blend
  • 3/4  teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed & drained
  • 12-ounce box of Lundberg Elbow Brown Rice Pasta, cooked for 7 minutes (al dente)
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/4 fresh Italian parsley, chopped
  • 8-ounces Fontina or provolone, grated

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Sauté first 7 ingredients in large saucepan over medium-high heat until meat is cooked through and no longer pink, breaking up sausage and beef.  Blend tomatoes and tomato paste together and add to meat mixture, simmering 5 minutes. Add kidney beans and season with salt and pepper. Add elbow pasta, Parmesan, and parsley, stirring  to combine. Fill a 9X13-inch baking dish treated with no-stick spray. Sprinkle with grated Fontina. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese melts and casserole is heated through. Serves 6.