Pizza Pasta

Sat, Jan 9, 2010

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This pasta dish is sneaky because it disguises healthy veggies and makes them appealing to kids (and adults). There is nothing more satisfying than watching your child scarf down spinach and tomatoes… and ask for seconds! It is stock full of healthy ingredients and yet it is one of my 2-year-old son’s favorites.

The idea for this pasta dish came from making pizzas. I decided to try making a “pizza” with pasta as the crust. I then layered my pizza sauce, chicken sausage and cheese on top. We liked it but I decided to keep working on it. After many trials, I have ended up with the following recipe. We decided we like it better when all of the ingredients are mixed together rather than layered. I add chopped spinach to the homemade chicken sausage and to the pasta dish so that my family will eat the leafy green without even noticing.

Pizza Pasta

Recipe Type: Main Course

Author: Itsy Bitsy Foodies

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 8

The idea for this pasta dish came from making pizzas. I decided to try making a “pizza” with pasta as the crust. I then layered my pizza sauce, chicken sausage and cheese on top. The end result is now a pasta casserole dish that disguises spinach, tomatoes and other healthy ingredients!

Ingredients

1 pound of pasta, such as penne
5-6 fresh tomatoes (Roma is a good option) or 1 28 oz. can of whole plum tomatoes
1 Tbsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt, to taste
1 tsp sugar
1/2 – 1 tsp garlic powder, optional
1 pound chicken or turkey sausage, homemade or store-bought
1 1/2 – 2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2-3 cups coarsely chopped spinach

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Cut off the tops of the tomatoes and discard the tops.
Chop the tomatoes and mix the tomatoes with the seasonings, using all of the tomato juice from the can.
Mash the tomatoes until they reach your desired consistency.
If your kids will not eat chunks of tomato, blend the sauce until smooth.
Cook the chicken sausage and drain off any excess liquid.
Mix the cooked pasta, cooked chicken sausage, tomato sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and chopped spinach in a large casserole pan.
Cover with additional mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Sprinkle with oregano.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden and the cheese is beginning to bubble.