Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce #La Romanella Style

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When cooking for plenty {and by plenty I mean at least 50}, it’s always smart to go with a pasta dish.  Baked Pasta Dishes can be prepared ahead of time and then popped into the oven to heat through before the party is set to begin.  At my most recent get-together {for #3’s baptism} I needed a dish that was easy, delicious, and not too pricey.  The Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce #La Romanella Style that I prepared was all of those things, plus more.   It was a crowd pleaser.  Hooray.

I picked up the ingredients for my pasta dish at my local Smart & Final store.   As has been typical of my most recent Smart & Final shopping trips, I photographed the whole thing and shared on Google +.  {I’d love for you to see it! }   There’s just something about being able to take pictures of everything on the shelves…..

This recipe is perfect for a large family dinner or gathering.

Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce

• 1 lb. pkg. La Romanella pasta, uncooked
• 1 lb. Italian sausage (La Romanella) or lean ground beef, cooked and drained.  (If you are a meat lover, use one lb. of each)
• 2 (26 oz) jars of La Romanella marinara sauce
• 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare pasta directed on package.  In large bowl/pan combine pasta, sausage/ground beef (cooked), pasta sauce and 2 cups of cheese.  Mix well.  Turn into greased 9X13 pan and cover with foil.  Bake 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Uncover and spread remaining cheese on top of pasta and sprinkle with parsley.  Bake 10 minutes or until cheese melts.  Makes 12-15 servings.

*For my gathering, I quadrupled the recipe.  Here’s how I prepared it:

First, grab the ingredients so that they are all on hand when you need them, and preheat your oven.

Second, cut the casing off the sausage and brown in a large skillet until completely cooked through.  Crumble with spoon so that the pieces are bite sized.

Third, grab a big pot.  You are going to need it.  Fill it with water and bring to a boil.  Salt the water, add about a TBSP of olive oil and pour the pasta in. Cook according to package directions for al dente pasta and then drain immediately.

Add sausage, cheese and marinara sauce to stock pot with pasta.  Stir until completely combined.

Put into baking dishes and cook for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Add two cups of shredded cheese and bake for another 10 minutes.

Serve while hot!

Wanting to sample the La Romanella line from Smart & Final?  They’d love for you try their line and here’s a little incentive!  {wink}  Just visit your local Smart & Final and purchase any La Romanella product.  Save your receipt because  when you get to a computer, visit the  La Romanella Sweetstakes site and enter the code on your receipt and enter to win any of these pretty fabulous prizes:

First Prize: a weekend trip to one of the most luxurious Italian inspired resorts in Las Vegas! Additional prizes include: (8) $50 SmartCash cards (2 per week given away) WOWZA!!

My readers always seem to have all the luck, so when you win the Las Vegas Trip, consider bringing me along, you hear?

Additionally, if you are a voting kind of person, {and I hope you are}, then you can vote for my recipe!  How fun is that?  {laughing} just visit the La Romanella site to vote for your favorite recipe {I guess it doesn’t have to be mine} created from the La Romanella products.

Have you had the chance to try any La Romanella products?  If so, what are your favorites?

This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias #CBias.  The yummy {tried and true} recipe came from Lori Kessler. THANK YOU!