Make awesome pasta sausage bake in the crockpot quick and easy

If you are like me, you are always running around trying to get things done.  This pasta sausage bake is so quick and easy because you make it in the crockpot!  No boiling the noodles and the only thing you have to pre-cook is the sausage!  In about 4 hours you will have a delicious pasta sausage bake that looks like it came right out of the oven! 

Just brown the sausage and drain and then assemble the ingredients.  Go get your errands run, or take the kids to soccer practice and when you come back your dinner will be ready to bring to the table! 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground hot or mild Italian sausage (browned and drained)

1 lb. box of pasta, any kind (I used cellentani but penne, ziti would be just as good)

2 jars spaghetti sauce

1 egg

1 15-ounce container of ricotta cheese

2 cups mozzarella divided in half

1 cup grated Parmesan divided in half

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. parsley

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

1 clove garlic finely chopped

Pam or non-stick spray

Instructions

In a small bowl mix ricotta, egg, ½ mozzarella cheese, ½ Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, parsley, and salt and pepper.  Stir to blend all the ingredients together.

Next, spray your crockpot liberally with the non-stick spray. Add half the uncooked noodles into the crockpot.  Pour about ¾ of a jar of sauce on the noodles, stir together to make sure every they are completely covered.  Press down into an even layer.

Now add half the ricotta on top of the noodles.  Next, sprinkle half the sausage on top.  Add the other third of the jar of sauce on top of the sausage.

Repeat all the layers with the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and turn the crockpot on low for 4-6 hours.  After four hours test the noodles to see if they are done.  If not, continue cooking till the noodle reach your preferred level of doneness. 

Add the rest of the cheese on top and cook for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Cut the pasta sausage bake as you would lasagna into squares and serve with a salad and some Italian bread.  Yummy and so easy!

How to make quick and savory Greek style green beans

The summer bounty of fresh vegetables is in full swing!  I love going to the local farmer’s market and buying fresh tomatoes and green beans.  Being of Greek descent I know I’ve touted the delicious flavors of Greek cooking many times.  So I’m at it again.  One of my family’s favorite Greek recipes is the Greek style green beans.  In fact, it is my husband’s most asked for vegetable recipe!

You see, while I love green beans any way, shape, or form, he isn’t fond of the lightly sautéed style of beans.  The beans just don’t seem cooked to him.  Raw or cooked never bothered me.  As a child, I’d sit in the kitchen helping my mom snap raw beans gobbling up just as many as I’d snap.  Before my husband met me, the only beans he would ever eat were slow-cooked with a ham hock.  (Which I also love)

I know, I know, this entire introduction for a simple side dish.  Side dish or not a good one can make the meal.  And what is even better is that these Greek style green beans are so easy to make.

So I think I’ll be on my way to that local Farmer's Market to get some fresh beans today!  How about you?

Savory Greek style green beans

Ingredients:

•   1 lb. fresh or frozen green beans (thawed if frozen)

•   Garlic clove, minced

•   1 tbsp. light olive oil

•   ¼ cup chopped onions

•   14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes  (you can substitute fresh diced tomatoes if desired)

•   1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

•   ½ tsp. each of salt and pepper

•   ½” tsp. oregano

•   1 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot.  Add the onions and garlic and sauté about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent.  Stir in the green beans and cook a little longer.  Reduce the heat to medium low.  Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, and lemon juice.  Cook on medium low for 5 more minutes.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes.

We hope you stop by Make it easy crafts each week for more craft tutorials, recipes, printables and so much more.