**Note – this recipe came from a blog that no longer exists, so I have added the recipe, and taken out the links. So sad this blog is gone!! (and grateful I had printed out the recipe!)**
This recipe comes from a blog that I love for all of her simple, down to earth recipes. I have been reading Mommy Cooks for the last few months, and I have so many of her recipes bookmarked. Even though I’m not a mom, I usually need recipes that are quick and easy for weeknights. Mommy Cooks is the perfect place to find these recipes!!
I remember being intrigued by this recipe because there are beans in it. I don’t know where I’ve been, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a baked pasta dish that had beans in it. But I’m going to start adding them now – this was a perfect addition! This pasta dish has many of my favorite things – sausage, spinach, tomatoes – all baked together into a cheesy main course. She used fusilli, but I had some penne that needed to be used, so I substituted that. And I have to admit that I would prefer the cheap mozzarella in baked dishes like this. It just seems to melt better to me. I didn’t use a really good mozzarella for this, but something mid-grade, and it didn’t melt like I like my cheese in a baked dish.
Also, on a side note – Nicole has started another round of Taste and Create. Check it out and join up if you like to cook off of other food blogs!!
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 (28-ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10 ounce) box frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 (16 ounce) box pasta
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup romano cheese, grated
- chopped parsley, to garnish
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the sausage with the minced garlic until the sausage is no longer pink and crumbled. Drain.
- Stir in the tomatoes, beans, spinach and Italian seasoning. Reduce the heat and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, just until al dente. Drain and lightly butter.
- Add the cooked pasta to the meat sauce and toss until well coated. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour half of the pasta mixture into the pan. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese on top, then repeat. Sprinkle the grated Romano on the top. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Recipe from Mommy Cooks (blog no longer active)
Looks yummy! Just checked out Mommy Cooks blog – it’s great and as I have two boys and she has four – I’m in awe! Thanks for the recommendation.
Thank you for the mention.And I am so glad that you liked the dish.Have a great day.
Elizabeth aka MommyChef
Hi there you have a great blog,lovely recipes. Feel free to visit my blog too 🙂
Jeena xx
click here for food recipes
Looks good! Yum 🙂
The Tuscan pasta sounds exceptionally good!!! You can use whatever kind of sausage you like and change up the flavour!!
Love pasta with good quality sausage.
That looks good. Pasta, sausage and cheese is a good combo. I like the sound of the beans as well.
Pasta and sausage is a real winner, will have to check out Mommy’s blog!
Thank you for mentioning Mommy Cooks! Her site looks amazing. I am I going to stop and buy some beans on the way home from work so I can make the Tuscan Pasta tomorrow night.
That pasta sounds really yummy…I love beans and I definitely wouldn’t mind and baked beans pasta…especially with sausage! 🙂
This looks really good, Deborah…and as far as I’m concerned, you can never have enough pasta recipes! 🙂
You can’t miss with mozzarella and spinach.