Quick & Easy Zesty Italian Penne Pasta Bake

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 package jimmy dean sausage
• 1 medium onion, course chop
• 1 small sweet red pepper, course chop
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon hot crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons dry basil
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 small zucchini, unpeeled,sliced very thin (do not cook zucchini, it will cook in the casserole)
• salt and black pepper
• 1/2 box penne pasta
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded colby-monterey jack cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter, to grease casserole dish

Recipe

• 1 cook pasta to aldente stage, put in strainer, do not rinse and set aside to completely drain.
• 2 heat large saute pan, add olive oil, onion, sweet red peppers, hot crushed red pepper flakes and garlic.
• 3 saute on low until soft, not brown.
• 4 place in a small bowl and set aside.
• 5 in same pan, brown sausage until cooked through.
• 6 if not using jimmy dean sausage, remove any excess fat.
• 7 return vegetable mixture back to pan and add tomato sauce, basil, salt and pepper to taste.
• 8 bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 10 minutes.
• 9 grease 2 quart casserole, put 1/2 of the pasta, cover with 1/2 of the meat/sauce mixture, lay slices of 1/2 of the zucchini, sprinkle 1/2 of the cheese, repeat with a second layer of pasta, meat/sauce mixture, zucchini slices, ending with the remaining cheese.
• 10 bake covered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, remove cover and bake until lightly brown, about 10 minutes.